THE-ROMANGE-OF 

-GENTLE-WILL- 


CLYDE-C-WESTOVER 


THE  ROMANCE  OF  GENTLE  WILL 


THE  ROMANCE  OF 
GENTLE  WILL 


A  HITHERTO  UNPUBLISHED  CHAPTER 
IN  THE  STORY  OF  THE  LOVE  OF  THE 
IMMORTAL  BARD  ::  ::  ::  ::  ::  :: 


BY 

CLYDE  C.  WESTOVER 


NEW  YORK  AND  WASHINGTON 

THE  NEALE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

1905 


*" 


* 


COPYRIGHT,  1905 
BY  CLYDE  C.  WESTOVER 


Ps 


PROEM 

If,  in  the  relation  of  the  succeeding  narrative,  the 
chronicler  has  deviated  in  some  slight  degree  from 
publicly  recorded  dates  of  certain  events  in  the  life  of 
the  famous  poet,  he  makes  no  excuse,  but  quotes  as 
his  authority  the  diary  of  Henry  Wriothesley,  Earl 
of  Southampton,  from  whose  age-worn  and  well- 
nigh  illegible  pages  the  incidents  were  gleaned. 


282173 


CHARACTERS  IN   THE  TALE 

THE    MEN 

Philip  II,  King  of  Spain. 

Robert  Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester. 

William  Shakespeare. 

Robert  Devereux,  Earl  of  Essex. 

Henry  Wriothesley,  Earl  of  Southampton. 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh. 

Sir  Francis  Drake. 

Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  Lord  Chancellor  of  England. 

Sir  Amias  Paulet,  Keeper  of  the  Tower. 

Lord  Bishop  Kitchen  of  Llandaff,  a  Conformist  Minister. 

Edmund  Spenser. 

Governor  Lane  of  Virginia. 

The  Duke  of  Alva. 

Don  Ruy  Gomez  De  Silva,  Prime  Minister  of  Spam. 

Alexander  Farnese,  Duke  of  Parma. 

Sir  James  Melville,  the  Scottish  Embassador. 

John  Florio,  a  Master  of  Languages. 

John  Shakespeare. 

Roger  Covert,  a  Reformed  Rogue. 

Pulsifer  Kyd,  the  Court  Fool. 

Fernando  Cordes,  a  Spanish  Assassin. 

John  Hallam,  a  Serving-Man. 

Abraham,  A  Jewish  Costumer. 

THE  WOMEN 

Elizabeth,  Queen  of  England. 

Mary,  Queen  of  Scots. 

Anne  Hathaway,  Her  Majesty's  Hand-Maiden. 

Juliet  Florio. 

Anne  Holcombe,  a  Laundress. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I     The  Queen's  Deer n 

II     Roger  "Under  Cover" 23 

III  An  Incident  on  the  Old  Roman  Road 35 

IV  The  Domicil  of  Florio 47 

V    The  Court  of  the  Virgin 64 

VI     My  Lady's  Garter 78 

VII     The  Tilt  at  Rhyme 91 

VIII    A  Queen's  Favourite 103 

IX    The  Chancellor  and  the  Fool 115 

X    A  Strange  Fish  in  the  Thames 128 

XI    At  the  Whipping  Post 141 

XII    A  Stranger  at  Court 153 

XIII  The  Jester's  Revenge 166 

XIV  A  Lady  and  a  Lord 179 

XV    The  Laundress  and  the  Ruff 192 

XVI    The  Captain  of  the  Guard 206 

XVII     What  the  Green-Eyed  Monster  Did 220 

XVIII     The  Queen  of  Scots 234 

XIX     Royal  Ire 248 

XX    In  the  Tower 261 

XXI     Her  Majesty's  Summons 273 

XXII  The  Poet's  Prize..                                                .  286 


THE   ROMANCE   OF 
GENTLE   WILL 


CHAPTER  I 
THE  QUEEN'S  DEER 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1583  two  lads  were  break 
ing  their  fast  under  a  giant  oak  in  the  heart  of 
Fulbroke  Forest,  Her  Majesty's  noble  park  at  the 
foot  of  the  Welcombe  Hills.  The  younger  of  the 
twain  was  a  somewhat  dainty  youth,  slight  of  stature, 
and  his  jerkin  of  green  cloth,  studded  with  silver 
latchets,  and  his  hose  of  elegant  texture  proclaimed 
him  to  be  of  a  superior  station  to  his  companion, 
whose  huge  frame  was  clad  in  an  ugly  gray  woolen 
stuff  and  wrhose  knotted  hands  and  homely  visage  in 
dicated  a  condition  of  servitude,  though  there  was  a 
look  of  unwavering  faith  in  the  dull  eyes  that  were 
fixed  upon  his  boyish  master  as  he  listened  with  rapt 
attention  and  drooping  jaw  to  the  tale  that  he  was 
spinning. 

"Aye,  Robin  Hood  was  a  merry  wight,  John,"  the 
lad  went  on,  "and  I  would  that  we  had  lived  in  his 
day.  He  had  many  a  fine  adventure  and  his  dearest 
pleasure  was  in  poaching  on  the  royal  preserves. 


12  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

But  why  do  you  not  taste  your  breakfast,  John? 
Have  you  no  appetite  for  the  goodies  ?  We  were  up 
this  morning  a  full  hour  before  the  sun  and  as  yet  no 
game,  not  even  a  coney,  has  fallen  to  our  bows.  You 
must  stay  your  stomach,  for  we  have  a  long  day  be 
fore  us,  and  we  are  many  miles  from  home." 

"Master  Willum,  your  story  of  Robin  has  made 
me  forget  my  hunger,  but  I  will  make  amends" ;  and 
the  yokel  fell  to  right  heartily,  occasionally  giving  a 
grunt  of  satisfaction  between  the  mouth fuls. 

The  younger  man  sat  back,  picking  listlessly  at  a 
morsel  of  cold  fowl  and  watching  with  amusement 
the  voracious  cramming  of  his  uncouth  companion. 

"John,  they  do  say  that  Queen  Elizabeth  and  her 
suite  are  on  the  highway,  engaged  in  a  pilgrimage  to 
Robert  Dudley's  seat  at  Kenilworth,  and  that  even 
now  they  are  in  the  County  Warwick,  though  why 
she  should  come  so  far  away  from  London  with  its 
players  and  other  delights  ready  at  hand  and  give  up 
the  comfort  and  ease  of  her  castle  at  Windsor  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  understand." 

"Earl  Dudley  is  a  noble  lord,  Master  Willum,  and 
there  do  be  gossip  in  the  country-side  that  'ur  would 
marry  the  Queen,  and  at  the  Stra'ford  Arms  I  heard 
a  rogue  last  night  make  mention  how  'ur  had  sent  to 
London  for  a  band  of  players  to  make  glad  Her 
Majesty's  visit,  and  that  various  knaves  were  fur 
bishing  up  the  castle  so  that  the  Queen  might  see  it 
at  its  best ;  but  the  villain  had  been  drinking  the  dregs 
of  many  ale-pots  and  'ur  could  not  be  counted  in  good 
wisdom." 

( 'Tis  likely  enough,  John.    Dudley  has  ever  been 
a  dandy,  though  it  has  never  been  my  lot  to  lay  eyes 


The  Queen's  Deer  13 

upon  him.  Tis  said  he  has  an  hundred  changes  in 
his  wardrobe,  and  he  displays  a  most  gallant  figure. 
'Twill  be  strange  if  a  man  of  his  low  birth  becomes 
the  royal  consort  and  shares  the  throne  of  England. 
But  the  sun  is  getting  higher,  John,  and  here  under 
the  oaks  it  grows  much  lighter;  if  we  would  fall  on 
game  and  avoid  the  keepers  we  must  be  alert." 

"Aye,  master,  but  it  would  go  hard  with  us  were 
'e  caught  poaching  with  the  Queen  in  the  shire. 
Mayhap  another  day  would  be  more  safe." 

"Nonsense,  John,  'twill  be  three  hours  before  the 
court  dandies  are  up  and  dressed.  The  royal  house 
hold  would  not  venture  upon  the  highway  ere  the 
noonday  sun  had  robbed  the  shadows  of  their  chill 
and  dried  the  dew  beneath  the  overhanging  trees. 
I  would  venture  much,  however,  if  I  might  look 
upon  the  Queen.  '.Tis  a  chance  that  may  come  but 
once  in  a  lifetime,  but  'twould  be  a  serious  matter 
were  we  caught  in  trespass  in  the  royal  park.  Let 
us  lift  up  our  bows,  John ;  we  have  already  lost  too 
much  time  in  romancing." 

So  saying  the  youth  stooped  to  pick  up  his  cross 
bow  and  arrows  which  lay  by  the  tree,  and  John 
stepped  to  the  other  side  of  the  oak  where  his  own 
shafts  had  been  left.  Something'  that  he  witnessed 
caused  him  to  draw  back  hastily,  and  he  clutched  his 
master's  arm  with  a  warning  "Ssh"  as  he  drew  him 
close  to  the  trunk  and  directed  his  gaze  to  a  little 
clearing  in  the  forest  some  thirty  yards  distant.  A 
noble  fallow-buck  had  leapt  into  the  open  space  and 
some  movement  or  the  scent  of  the  huntsmen  had 
caused  him  to  stop  stock-still,  with  head  erect  and 
quivering  nostrils  dilated,  aware  of  the  presence  of 


14  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

danger  but  uncertain  as  to  its  direction,  awaiting 
some  further  warning  ere  he  should  bound  away  in 
precipitate  flight. 

The  lad,  with  trembling  fingers,  fitted  an  arrow 
to  his  bow,  but  the  pressure  of  John's  strong  hand 
upon  his  arm  steadied  his  nerves  and  he  carefully 
took  aim.  At  the  same  moment  the  buck  beheld 
the  archer  and  with  a  tremendous  bound  leapt  for  the 
thick  forest.  He  was  an  instant  too  late,  however, 
for  with  a  sharp  twang  of  the  string  the  arrow  sped 
on  its  way  and,  just  as  his  feet  left  the  earth,  buried 
itself  deep  beneath  his  shoulder.  He  crashed  to  the 
ground  in  the  middle  of  his  leap,  and  his  hoofs  cut 
deeply  into  the  green  sward  in  his  frantic  efforts  to 
arise. 

With  a  shout  John  drew  his  knife  and  rushed  upon 
the  deer.  Deftly  avoiding  the  sharp  hoofs  he  drew 
his  blade  across  its  throat,  and  as  the  red  blood  pour 
ed  forth  upon  the  grass  the  eyes  glazed  and  the  noble 
animal's  struggles  were  stilled. 

"'Twas  a  gallant  shot,  Master  Willum,  and  I  never 
saw  bigger  fallow-buck.  'Twill  be  hunting  enough 
for  one  day,  I  am  thinking.  'Ur  '11  be  a  heavy  load 
to  carry  home." 

"You  are  right,  John.  Your  broad  shoulders  will 
be  taxed  to  the  utmost.  'Twas  a  lucky  kill,"  said  the 
youth,  as  he  plucked  the  arrow  from  the  buck's  side. 

John  cut  some  strong  withes  from  a  clinging  vine 
and  tied  the  animal's  feet  together,  then  placing  his 
bow  between  the  strands  he  swung  the  carcass  upon 
his  back,  following  his  master,  who  had  gathered  up 
their  arrows  and  who  had  gone  ahead,  making  his 
way  toward  the  highway.  The  lad  forgot  all  caution 


The  Queen's  Deer  15 

in  his  joy  at  their  success,  and  despite  the  yokel's 
protest  began  singing  lustily : 

"Oh  troll  me  a  catch 
Of  a  huntsman  bold 
And  a  lad  devoid  of  fear, 
A  morning  gray 
On  the  Queen's  highway 
And  a  shaft  for  the  royal  deer. 

"Then,  Oho  my  lad 
We  have  great  success 
In  quest  of  the  fallow-buck, 
A  kingly  court 
Would  enjoy  the  sport 
Attended  by  such  luck. 

"Thy  back  is  broad, 
But  thy  face,  is  long, 
John  Hallam,  do  not  frown ; 
The  gallows  tree 
Would  finish  thee 
Were  't  brought  before  the  crown." 

He  stopped  with  a  hearty  laugh  at  John's  discom 
fiture. 

"Master  Willum,  your  wit  of  making  rhyme  will 
get  you  into  sore  trouble  some  day.  There  may  be 
ears  about  will  not  applaud  your  verse." 

"Then  let  us  away, 
While  yet  we  may, 
From  out  this  gloomy  wood 
To  a  tankard  of  ale ; 
Friend  John,  the  pale, 
'Twill  do  thy  courage  good," 

sang  his  taunting  master,  whose  youthful  spirits 
could  not  be  curbed ;  and  he  pranced  gaily  ahead  of 
the  laboring  John,  and  as  the  trees  became  somewhat 


16  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

sparser,  denoting  the  proximity  of  the  highway,  with 
a  shout  to  John  to  "Make  haste,  you  lazy  fellow,  we 
are  almost  out  of  the  wood,"  he  broke  into  a  run  and 
fairly  plumped  into  the  arms  of  two  elegant  gentle 
men  clad  in  green  coats  and  satin  breeches  and 
adorned  with  a  profusioh  of  gold  lace,  who  were  well- 
nigh  as  startled  as  the  lad  by  their  abrupt  meeting. 

The  youth  stopped  short  in  dismay,  while  the 
heavy  figure  of  John  came  crashing  through  the 
twigs,  bearing  the  tell-tale  evidence  of  their  morn 
ing's  occupation. 

"Oho,  what  have  we  here,  Amias  ?"  said  the  elder 
of  the  men,  frowning  ominously  and  toying  with  his 
sword.  "Deer-stealers,  upon  my  word!  This  is 
serious  indeed.  We  must  convey  them  to  Elizabeth/' 

At  these  words  the  face  of  the  young  huntsman 
paled  visibly  and  his  knees  seemed  scarce  able  to 
support  him,  while  his  serving-man  dropped  the  deer 
and  set  up  a  most  piteous  blubbering  interspersed 
with  incoherent  pleas  for  mercy. 

"I  fear  me,  Sir  Walter,"  said  the  man  addressed 
as  Amias,  "that  the  Queen  is  in  a  wicked  mood.  She 
is  most  angered  at  the  late  start  this  morning  and  at 
this  enforced  delay  to  give  her  bearers  rest,  and  if  we 
deliver  up  these  two  culprits,  in  her  impatience  to 
proceed  on  her  way  to  Kenilworth  she  may  visit  upon 
them  the  extreme  penalty,  that  she  may  be  rid  of 
extra  burdens  on  her  march.  Let  us  rather  shut  our 
eyes  to  their  offense  and  allow  them  to  pass.  Some 
future  crime  may  bring  its  punishment  and  Her 
Majesty  will  not  suffer  by  the  loss  of  one  fallow- 
deer." 


The  Queen's  Deer  17 

"Amias!  Amias!  You  were  ever  a  soft-hearted 
fool.  Tis  lucky  you  have  me  near  to  keep  you  in 
check,  or  the  Queen's  domain  would  be  over-run  with 
rascals.  Nay,  take  charge  of  the  stripling  and  I  will 
attend  this  big  fellow";  and  as  John  re-shouldered 
the  deer  at  his  command  he  seized  him  by  the  collar 
and  strode  to  the  highway. 

"You  are  my  superior  officer  and  I  must  obey, 
though  I  fear  it  is  a  bad  business  for  these 
youngsters,"  said  Amias  as  he  followed  with  the  lad. 

They  proceeded  to  a  bend  in  the  highway,  where 
they  were  greeted  by  a  cloud  of  dust  and  the  sound 
of  many  trampling  hoofs,  which  announced  the 
approach  of  the  royal  train. 

The  elder  man  pushed  forward  with  his  prisoner, 
crying : 

"Hold,  your  Majesty,  we  have  taken  two  thieves 
in  trespass  on  your  preserves  and  bring  them  to  your 
justice." 

A  voice  rose  in  angry  protest,  and  the  embroidered 
curtain  of  a  palanquin  borne  by  a  dozen  sturdy 
guardsmen  was  pushed  aside,  while  courtiers  and 
ladies-in-waiting  mounted  on  sleek  chargers  pressed 
forward  to  witness  the  cause  of  this  new  divertise- 
ment. 

"A  pestilence  upon  you,  Walter  Raleigh !"  said  the 
Queen,  as  the  bearers  deposited  the  palanquin  in  the 
roadway.  "What  cursed  fate  retards  our  every 
movement?  Am  I  to  be  harassed  and  delayed 
because  your  vigilance  has  unearthed  some  poaching 
knave  ?  Why  did  you  not  flog  him  and  let  him  go, 
that  I  might  on  to  Kenilworth?" 


18  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  lackeys  drew  the  curtains  apart  and  displayed 
the  irate  person  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  who  in  hand 
some  gown  embroidered  with  the  royal  arms,  and 
with  neck  encased  in  an  enormous  ruff,  her  abundant 
head  of  reddish  hair  dressed  in  a  coiffure  of  pearls 
and  diamonds,  sat  in  her  carved  and  cushioned  seat, 
her  dainty  foot  tapping  impatiently,  her  tapering 
fingers  clutching  the  arm  of  her  chair  and  her  eyes 
flashing  spitefully  at  Raleigh,  who  stood,  hat  in  hand, 
in  front  of  his  prisoner. 

"Your  Majesty,"  said  he,  stepping  aside  and  dis 
closing  the  lout  with  his  burden,  "Sir  Amias  Paulet 
was  of  some  such  mind  as  yourself,  but  the  offense 
was  most  flagrant.  This  man  bears  a  fallow-buck, 
but  just  now  killed  in  the  forest  of  Fulbroke,  and  it 
were  a  bad  example  indeed  to  let  these  varlets  go 
unpunished." 

"A  deer-stealer,  did  you  say,  Sir  Walter?  A 
fitting  welcome  for  my  advent  into  Warwick.  You 
did  well  to  seize  him.  I  will  teach  these  country 
boobies  to  mock  me  in  my  own  park.  Let  two  of 
my  guards  take  this  fellow  and  hang  him  quickly  on 
the  nearest  oak,  while  we  will  hasten  on  our  way  that 
our  pleasure  may  not  be  marred  by  the  sight  of  his 
dangling  carcass." 

"There  are  two,  your  Majesty,"  said  Raleigh, 
while  the  Queen  scowled  anew. 

As  he  spoke  the  younger  lad  broke  from  Amias 
Paulet's  restraining  grasp,  and  stepping  to  John 
Hallam's  side  addressed  the  Queen : 

"Your  Majesty,"  said  he,  "there  is  but  one  who 
merits  punishment.  Let  your  royal  displeasure  fall 


The  Queen's  Deer  19 

upon  my  head.  I  killed  the  deer  while  this  honest 
lad  did  but  bear  him  from  the  forest  at  my  request.'' 

With  an  angry  snort  Elizabeth  surveyed  the  youth 
from  head  to  foot. 

"Have  done  with  heroics,"  she  said.  "What  is 
your  name?" 

"I  am  called  William  Shakespeare,"  he  answered, 
"and  this  is  John  Hallam,  serving-man  to  my  father, 
Master  John  Shakespeare." 

"Well,  for  your  boldness,  I  will  spare  your  father 
his  serving-man.  Raleigh,  you  will  seize  Young 
Arrogance  and  execute  upon  him  the  sentence  I  had 
but  now  passed  upon  his  man.  We  will  show  this 
country  bumpkin  how  unsafe  it  is  to  trifle  with  an 
angry  queen.  Let  the  cavalcade  proceed.  Sir  Amias 
Paulet,  you  will  attend  me." 

Two  soldiers  stepped  forward  and  passed  a  thong 
around  young  Shakespeare's  arms,  while  the  released 
yokel  fell  sobbing  at  his  feet. 

In  the  group  about  Queen  Elizabeth  was  a  hand 
some  young  maid  of  honour  who  looked  to  be  but 
scarcely  out  of  her  teens,  and  whose  proud  beauty 
and  haughty  bearing  marked  her  as  a  person  high  in 
royal  favour. 

She  had  sat  on  her  horse,  a  silent  witness  to  the 
discomfiture  of  the  serving-man,  but  when  the  youth 
had  stepped  forward  with  his  plea  for  justice  a  flush 
of  admiration  for  his  bravery  arose  to  her  cheek  and 
her  eyes  never  left  his  face  while  he  was  speaking. 
At  the  action  of  the  Queen  her  lip  curled  in  a  sneer 
of  disgust,  and  as  the  bearers  prepared  to  raise  the 
palanquin  she  seemed  of  a  sudden  to  hit  upon  some 


20  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

decision,  and  shortening  her  horse's  rein  she  pressed 
close  to  the  side  of  Elizabeth,  crying : 

"Your  Majesty,  a  boon ;  I  crave  this  young  man's 
life !" 

"Anne  Hathaway,  you  impudent  hussy!"  fairly 
shrieked  the  angry  Queen,  "how  dare  you  interfere 
when  once  the  royal  word  is  passed?  Get  back  to 
your  place  or  I  will  dismiss  you  from  my  service." 

"Your  Majesty,"  persisted  the  brave  maiden,  "this 
is  my  birth-morn,  and  you  told  me  but  yesternight 
that  any  favour  I  might  ask  of  you  on  this  day  would 
be  freely  granted";  and  she  shot  an  encouraging 
glance  at  young  Shakespeare,  who  brightened  per 
ceptibly  at  the  ray  of  hope,  and  whose  eyes  looked 
with  fervent  admiration  upon  her  handsome  face. 

"You  are  a  bold  minx,  Anne,"  said  Elizabeth,  the 
storm  in  her  brow  showing  signs  of  clearing,  "but 
you  speak  truth.  I  had  forgotten  my  promise;  but 
what  crazy  whim  has  entered  your  foolish  head  I  am 
at  a  loss  to  understand.  You  might  have  had  a  pearl 
necklace,  and  you  ask  only  the  life  of  a  country 
churl.  Have  a  care,  lass,  I  promised  but  one  boon. 
If  I  grant  his  life  you  must  forego  the  bawd." 

"I  am  agreed,  your  Majesty.  He  is  a  comely  lad 
and  his  features  denote  a  gentle  birth.  'Twould  be 
a  shame  to  deface  the  highway  with  his  withering 
body." 

"Anne  Hathaway,  I  will  come  to  the  belief  that 
you  are  a  fool.  Has  this  country  air  turned  your 
head?  We  will  transform  this  hanging  into  a 
wedding  and  impress  my  Lord  Bishop's  services  to 
join  you  to  this  hero  of  yours  if  you  persist  in  your 
admiration.  Though  it  seems  somewhat  out  of 


The  Queen's  Deer  21 

place  that  you  should  be  smitten  with  a  boy  appar 
ently  some  five  years  your  junior.  My  Lord  Hatton, 
what  do  you  counsel  ?  Shall  we  remit  sentence  upon 
this  prisoner?" 

The  tall  and  handsome  courtier  thus  addressed 
bowed  with  infinite  grace,  replying  to  his  Queen : 

"Your  Majesty  holds  the  power  of  life  and  death 
o'er  her  subjects,  and  I  would  not  presume  to 
interfere,  though  I  would  deem  it  but  just  to  visit 
punishment  upon  this  bold  offender."  He  evidently 
proposed  to  advance  a  further  argument  in  favor  of 
hanging  the  boy,  but  he  caught  the  eye  of  Anne 
Hathaway  fixed  upon  him  in  a  disdainful  stare  and 
he  stopped  abruptly  in  evident  confusion,  while 
the  Queen,  her  good  humor  fully  restored  by  his 
embarrassment,  laughed  heartily. 

"My  Lord,"  she  said,  "you  fain  would  remove  a 
rival  from  your  path.  Methinks  you  need  have  no 
fear  of  this  uncultured  youth.  And  now  as  I  have 
had  my  laugh  my  temper  inclines  to  mercy.  Anne, 
your  boon  is  granted,  on  condition  that  you  loose 
his  bonds  yourself.  Make  haste,  lass,  or  my  fury 
will  break  loose  again  at  this  delay." 

The  maid  of  honour's  haughty  face  was  o'erspread 
with  a  flush  of  shame,  but  she  accepted  the  conditions 
mutely  and  tossed  her  bridle  to  Sir  Amias  Paulet, 
who  assisted  her  to  dismount.  She  walked  silently 
to  the  prisoner's  side,  and  taking  a  knife  from  the 
girdle  of  one  of  his  guards  stepped  quickly  behind 
him  and  cut  the  thongs  that  bound  his  wrists,  then 
dropping  the  knife  to  the  ground  turned  on  her  heel 
and  moved  toward  the  Queen. 


22  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

With  a  quick  step  forward  the  lad  reached  her  side, 
and  dropping  upon  one  knee  seized  her  hand,  which 
he  kissed  once  with  an  air  of  gratefulness  and  grace 
that  appealed  to  the  Queen,  then  releasing  her  he  fell 
back  to  his  former  station  as  she  passed  on  to  her 
horse  and  was  assisted  to  remount. 

Elizabeth  clapped  her  hands.  "Well  done,  Master 
Shakespeare ;  I  am  glad  we  did  not  hang  thee,"  she 
said,  as  for  the  third  time  she  gave  orders  for  the 
royal  train  to  move  on. 

As  the  bearers  shouldered  the  palanquin  and  the 
gorgeous  cavalcade  passed  on  the  dusty  highway,  the 
two  lads  stood  by  the  carcass  of  their  deer  and  gazed 
in  dumb  amazement  at  the  lordly  show,  their  hearts 
full  of  gratitude  for  their  providential  escape. 

Young  Shakespeare  saw  one  form  alone  in  all  the 
throng — that  of  the  maid  who  had  saved  his  life. 
She  rode  on  one  side  of  the  highway  and  ne'er  looked 
back,  and  his  heart  sank  within  him.  As  they 
reached  the  bend  of  the  road,  however,  which  would 
soon  screen  them  from  view,  she  turned  in  the  saddle 
and  raised  one  gauntleted  hand  in  a  gesture  of  fare 
well,  while  some  white  object  gently  fluttered  to  the 
ground. 

When  they  had  vanished  around  the  bend  he  ran 
quickly  down  the  road  and  saw  a  little  satin  bow  from 
the  Lady  Anne's  sleeve  lying  in  the  dust.  He  seized 
it  eagerly  and  thrust  it  in  the  bosom  of  his  jerkin, 
then  returning  to  where  he  had  left  his  companion 
he  found  him  on  his  knees  by  the  deer,  offering  up 
fervent  thanks  for  their  miraculous  preservation. 


CHAPTER  II 


Close  by  the  famous  battle-ground  of  Naseby  there 
babbles  forth  a  tiny  rivulet,  which  ripples  o'er  the 
pebbles  and  seeks  the  larger  rocks  beneath.  Its 
gentle  murmur  is  changed  to  joyous  laughter  as  it 
splashes  on  its  way,  with  ever-broadening  current, 
forming,  long  ere  it  reaches  the  borders  of  North 
amptonshire,  a  mighty  river-bed,  whose  waters  flow 
on  with  majestic  sweep  and  many  a  graceful  turn 
through  Warwickshire,  Worcester  and  Gloucester, 
past  the  towns  of  Rugby,  Warwick,  Stratford  and 
Evesham ;  and  whose  noble  stream  empties  itself  into 
the  muddy  Severn  at  Tewksbury.  It  is  the  historic 
Avon.  It  divides  the  County  Warwick  in  two  irreg 
ular  sections.  The  region  to  the  north,  covered  with 
majestic  woods,  the  dwelling-places  of  innumerable 
wild  birds  and  animals  of  the  forest,  is  named  Arden ; 
while  to  the  south,  stretching  away  as  far  as  the  eye 
can  reach,  the  level  meads  of  Feldon  furnish  rich 
pasture  to  the  lowing  herds  that  are  constantly  at 
graze  on  their  fertile  soil. 

The  mail  road  and  the  Queen's  highway  from 
Chester  to  London  crosses  the  Avon  at  the  ancient 
ford,  which  was  spanned  centuries  ago  by  Hugh 
Clopton's  magnificent  bridge  of  fourteen  enormous 


24  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

arches,  through  which  may  be  seen  the  picturesque 
gables  and  the  pretty  streets  of  the  ancient  town  of 
Stratford. 

The  purlieus  of  the  forest  of  Arden  are  held  in 
free  usage  by  the  tenants  of  the  shire,  though  the 
park  proper  is  set  aside  to  the  Crown,  and  innumera 
ble  keepers  enforce  Her  Majesty's  laws,  and  see  that 
the  yeomanry  do  not  o'erstray  their  proper  bounds. 

For  long  after  the  wholesome  lesson  taught  them 
by  their  narrow  escape  from  the  judgment  of  the 
wrathful  Queen,  young  Master  Shakespeare  and  his 
man,  John  Hallam,  confined  their  rambles  to  the 
banks  of  the  Avon  and  the  borders  of  the  forest,  and 
if  they  hunted  game,  were  careful  to  keep  within  the 
confines  of  the  law. 

Their  bows  were  frequently  left  behind,  and  many 
a  day  was  spent  contentedly  lying  under  the  trees  on 
the  shore  of  the  beautiful  river  and  recounting 
their  impressions  of  the  wonderful  event  that  had 
engraved  itself  so  deeply  upon  their  youthful  brains, 
and  discussing  the  various  personages  in  Elizabeth's 
train. 

Full  many  a  sigh  the  young  man  heaved  at 
thought  of  the  royal  maid  who  had  so  bravely  inter 
fered  to  save  his  neck,  and  one  pleasant  afternoon 
as  John  sat  fishing  on  the  river  bank  his  master  paced 
restlessly  o'er  the  soft  turf,  occasionally  frowning 
and  muttering  to  himself.  At  length  he  turned 
upon  the  yokel  with  an  eager  query : 

"John,  dost  think  I  will  ever  set  eyes  on  her 
again?" 


Roger  "Under  Cover"  25 

"Who?  The  Queen?"  grunted  John,  as  he 
eagerly  awaited  the  result  of  a  promising  nibble  at 
his  newly  baited  hook. 

"No,  stupid ;  her  beautiful  maid  of  honour,  whom 
we  have  to  thank  for  our  presence  here  to-day." 

"How  should  I  know,  Master  Willum?  You 
have  frightened  the  fishes  with  your  gabbling,  and 
we  will  like  return  empty-handed.  You  are  sure 
bewitched  with  her  prettiness.  'Ur  be  ever  on  your 
tongue." 

"Oh,  never  mind  the  fish.  Did  you  ever  see  a 
play-actor,  John?" 

"Nay,  but  I  have  heard  tell  of  their  doings.  They 
must  be  most  wondrous  folk." 

"I  did  witness  a  production  once  at  Oxford,  John ; 
my  father  went  there  on  some  business  of  the  wool, 
and  I  accompanied  him ;  it  was  the  mayor's  show, 
and  I  will  ne'er  forget  its  fascination.  I  remember 
as  though  it  were  yesterday  the  speech  and  gestures 
of  the  famous  actors." 

"Aye,  master,  'tis  said  they  image  gnomes  and 
fairies,  and  in  their  private  doings  are  even  unlike 
common  folk." 

"They  are  a  people  to  themselves,  John.  They 
live  in  an  atmosphere  of  romance  which  sweetens 
and  attunes  their  daily  lives.  Ah!  Would  I 
belonged  to  their  guild!  I  feel  that  I  might  e'en 
become  a  famous  man  in  time,  but  it  is  not  to  be 
thought  of.  They  say  that  it  does  take  most  power 
ful  influence  at  court  to  become  attached  to  their 
merry  crew  in  even  the  most  humble  station.  The 
lords  and  ladies  are  their  patrons,  and  they  rub 


26  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

shoulders  with  the  nobility  when  they  do  play  at 
Windsor.  Tis  hinted  that  some  few  are  e'en  of 
noble  birth." 

"You  will  see  many  of  them,  Master  Willum, 
when  you  go  to  London  to  pursue  your  studies." 

"No  doubt,  John.  No  doubt  I  will.  But  I  am 
all  in  a  fear  and  tremble  at  thought  of  visiting  the 
great  city.  One  moment  I  would  go  and  the  next 
my  heart  sinks  within  me  at  prospect  of  leaving  the 
greenwood  and  our  beloved  river.  Then  again  I 
am  on  fire  with  eagerness,  for  I  will  study  the 
languages  and  learn  the  latest  modes  of  composition 
and  of  etiquette,  and  in  time  I  may  become  a  tutor 
of  these  arts,  and  earn  fair  income  in  the  instruction 
of  the  neighboring  youths." 

He  threw  himself  on  his  back  on  the  green  sward 
and  lay  thus  for  long,  his  thoughts  carrying  him  in 
fancied  flights  to  the  realms  of  the  unreal  and  into 
the  company  of  the  dwellers  of  stage-land.  John 
reclined  on  his  elbow,  blinking  lazily,  forgetful  of 
the  fish,  the  river,  and  the  woods;  the  only  vision 
that  disturbed  his  mind  being  the  anticipation  of  a 
hearty  supper  upon  their  return. 

Suddenly  young  Shakespeare  arose  and  struck  an 
attitude  before  the  astonished  man-servant. 

"Listen,  John,"  he  said;  "I  have  thought  up  some 
lines  anent  our  river.  Tell  me  if  they  fall  pleasantly 
on  thine  ear." 

With  the  rays  of  the  sinking  sun  lighting  his 
handsome  face,  and  with  gestures  of  exquisite  grace 
as  his  accompaniment,  he  began : 


Roger  "Under  Cover"  27 

"Lovely  Avon, 
Gently  flowing 

'Neath  thy  drooping  willows  green; 
'Tween  thy  banks 
The  sunset  glowing 
On  thy  bosom's  silver  sheen. 
Cool  retreats 
For  patient  anglers 
Dot  thy  undulating  shore ; 
Countless  fowl, 
In  wooing  couples, 
Skim  thy  placid  surface  o'er. 

"In  thy  sylvan 
Shaded  purlieus 
Timid  harts,  a-tremble  stand, 
Fearsome  of 
The  cruel  poacher's 
Arrow  and  death-dealing  hand. 
When  the  shadows 
Steal  upon  thee, 
Silent,  they  approach  thy  brink, 
Noble  antlers 
Bowing  o'er  thee, 
'Suaging  thirst  in  cooling  drink. 

"Life  is  ever 
Like  thy  current, 
Flowing  onward  to  the  sea ; 
Deeps  and  narrows, 
Pools  and  shallows 
Ending  in  Eternity. 
Noble  Avon, 
Mighty  lesson 
To  the  frivolous  and  gay, 
Steadfast  ever, 
Fickle  never, 
Faith  in  thy  appointed  way." 

As  he  finished,  he  stood  with  hand  uplifted,  and 
looked  at  John,  who  sat  with  mouth  hung  open, 
enthralled  by  the  rhythm  of  his  master's  poetry. 


28  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"Well,  lad,  what  is  your  judgment?  Is  it  an  apt 
description  ?"  asked  the  youth. 

"Ah,  master,  your  head  is  ever  filled  with  beau 
tiful  verses.  Surely  no  play-actor  could  recite  or 
make  them  better." 

"Your  commendation  is  pleasing,  John.  If  I 
could  have  such  as  you  ever  for  my  audiences  my 
fame  might  be  assured.  But  there  are  critics  in  this 
world  who  do  but  make  or  mar  a  man,  and  'tis  said 
their  favour  is  most  hard  to  gain.  But  I  will  soon 
unsatisfy  myself  with  this  dreaming.  Let  us  get 
back  to  earth  again  and  wend  our  way  homeward 
ere  the  deepening  shadows  plunge  the  woods  in 
darkness." 

John  picked  up  his  pole  and  the  lads  set  out  briskly 
on  their  journey  home.  By  the  time  they  reached 
the  highway  the  twilight  was  draping  the  forest  in 
its  somber  mantle,  and  they  stopped  for  a  moment 
to  draw  breath  ere  proceeding  on  the  final  stage. 
As  they  were  about  to  resume  their  march  they  were 
startled  suddenly  by  the  sound  of  a  deep  groan, 
which  apparently  issued  from  a  clump  of  brush  at 
the  side  of  the  road.  They  grasped  each  other  in 
their  terror,  while  they  felt  the  hair  rise  upon  their 
heads. 

"Tis  a  Wull  o'  the  Wisp/'  whispered  John. 
"  'Twould  draw  us  into  its  clutches  out  of  pity  for 
its  plight." 

"Nay,  John,"  said  his  master,  "methinks  it  has 
a  human  sound ;  let  us  be  wary." 

Again  the  groan  was  repeated,  and  young  Shakes 
peare  hesitated  no  longer,  but  shaking  off  John's 


Roger  "Under  Cover"  29 

restraining  clutch,  plunged  into  the  bushes,  and  in 
a  moment  called  loudly  for  his  companion  to  attend 
him. 

The  yokel,  reassured,  hastened  to  his  master's 
side,  and  found  him  bending  over  the  figure  of  a 
man  who  lay  in  a  semi-conscious  state  a  few  yards 
from  the  side  of  the  road.  In  the  dim  light  they 
saw  a  deep  gash  on  the  man's  temple,  from  which 
the  blood  was  oozing,  and  the  features,  such  as  could 
be  seen  through  a  scraggly  growth  of  beard,  were 
turned  a  deathly  white. 

"John,  he  is  sorely  wounded.  I  doubt  if  we  can 
revive  him.  Is  there  any  water  left  in  your  flagon  ?" 

"Aye,  master,  'tis  half  full,"  answered  John,  hand 
ing  Shakespeare  the  bottle. 

The  youth  dashed  part  of  its  contents  in  the 
injured  man's  face,  and  forcing  the  neck  of  the  flask 
between  his  lips,  poured  the  balance  into  his  mouth. 
He  gasped  and  coughed  weakly,  and  presently  his 
eyes  opened,  and  he  endeavored  to  raise  his  body  to 
his  elbow,  sputtering  and  gagging  to  rid  himself  of 
the  reviving  fluid. 

"Faith,  'tis  a  bad  business,"  said  he,  in  a  weak 
voice.  "Who  may  you  be,  young  masters,  and 
where  do  I  lie  in  this  sorry  plight  ?" 

"On  the  Arden  road,  hard  by  the  town  of  Strat 
ford,"  answered  Will  Shakespeare.  "How  came  you 
in  this  distress  ?  Were  you  fallen  upon  by  highway 
men?" 

"Nay.  I  had  a  tussle  with  two  of  the  Queen's 
mounted  keepers,  and  broke  one  fellow's  head  with 
my  hanger.  I  leapt  upon  his  horse  and  galloped  off 
as  though  the  Devil  were  after  me,  but  his  com- 


30  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

panion  was  too  much  concerned  with  the  other's 
difficulty,  and  I  got  away  beautifully,  and  was  laugh 
ing  to  myself  at  thought  of  their  beefy  figures  riding 
double,  when  my  spavined  nag  stumbled  in  a  rut 
in  the  highway,  and  I  flew  off  over  his  head  and 
remember  nothing  more  until  I  saw  your  friendly 
faces,  and  felt  your  beastly  liquor  trickling  down 
my  parched  throat." 

"Why,  'twas  nothing  but  pure  water,"  said 
Shakespeare,  "from  John  Hallam's  flagon." 

"Aye.  I  repeat,  'tis  beastly.  Water  rots  your 
jack-boots,  what  will  it  do  to  your  stomach?"  he 
growled,  as  he  weakly  sank  back  on  the  turf.  "Oh ! 
if  I  had  a  foaming  tankard  of  ale  now,  I'd  soon  be 
on  my  legs  again." 

"My  man  will  assist  you  to  your  feet,  and  together 
we  may  guide  you  to  my  father's  house,  where  you 
can  find  a  retreat  until  your  wound  is  healed." 

The  man  turned  his  head  toward  the  youth,  and 
his  eyes  opened  in  wonderment. 

"Young  sir,"  he  said,  "you  are  of  a  confiding 
nature.  You  go  my  warrant  without  questioning 
who  or  what  I  am." 

"  'Tis  enough  that  you  are  badly  wounded  and  in 
need  of  immediate  attention/'  said  the  lad,  as  he 
bound  his  kerchief  round  the  poor  fellow's  throbbing 
brow. 

"Natheless,  I  will  not  so  ill  reward  your  kindness. 
My  name  is  Roger  Covert,  though  I  am  better 
known  to  my  boon  companions  by  the  title  of  Roger 
'Under  Cover,'  in  consequence  of  my  many  secret 
escapades  and  dare-devil  exploits,  though  I  have 
always  succeeded  in  obscuring  my  identity  and  thus 


Roger  "Under  Cover"  31 

escaping  the  consequences  of  my  acts.  Of  late, 
however,  I  have  fallen  upon  evil  fortune.  Three 
months  back  I  belonged  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's 
company  of  guardsmen,  and  ruffled  it  with  the 
bravest  of  them.  But  the  wine-cup  got  the  best  of 
me,  and  after  repeatedly  warning  me,  my  captain  at 
last  stripped  me  of  my  uniform  and  turned  me  out 
of  the  service.  The  taverns  soon  absorbed  my 
meager  stock  of  coin ;  I  became  ragged  and  desperate 
and  was  like  to  have  starved  were  it  not  for  my 
poaching  on  the  Queen's  preserves,  in  which  act  I 
have  but  now  come  so  near  to  losing  my  liberty  and 
life.  I  am  a  rogue,  a  vagabond,  what  you  will,  but 
Roger  Covert  has  never  yet  violated  a  friend's 
hospitality.  You  had  best  leave  me  to  my  fate." 
His  eyes  closed  and  he  sighed  wearily,  too  far  gone 
to  care  if  life  or  death  claimed  him. 

"Nay,  my  man,  'twould  be  inhuman.  But  you 
have  spoken  overmuch  for  one  in  your  condition. 
We  must  get  you  to  the  house  as  soon  as  possible." 

So  saying,  with  John's  help  he  lifted  Covert  to 
his  feet ;  but  the  wounded  guardsman  was  so  weak 
ened  by  the  loss  of  blood  that  this  sudden  exertion 
caused  him  to  reel  and  fall  in  a  dead  faint  in 
Hallam's  arms.  Although  he  was  a  man  of  more 
than  medium  height,  and  of  sturdy  build,  the  giant 
yokel  lifted  him  up  as  though  he  were  a  child,  and 
calling  to  his  master  to  hurry  on  and  prepare  a 
resting-place  for  their  patient,  he  strode  swiftly 
along  the  highway,  nor  paused  to  rest  until  he  had 
deposited  his  burden  on  a  mattress  in  John  Shake 
speare's  abode. 


32  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

A  raging  fever  ensued  as  a  result  of  the  wound, 
and  for  a  fortnight  Roger  Covert  tossed  upon  his 
couch,  and  his  life  trembled  in  the  balance.  In  his 
ravings  he  was  back  with  his  old  comrades  under 
Raleigh,  and  his  faithful  nurses,  William  and  the 
serving-man,  heard  fragments  of  many  strange 
adventures  that  fell  from  his  unknowing  lips.  At 
one  time  he  fought  a  duel  with  rapiers  in  the  dim 
morning  light,  at  another  he  held  secret  meeting 
with  some  dainty  damsel  of  the  court;  again,  at  the 
Mermaid  Inn,  he  joined  his  companions  in  drinking- 
bouts  and  swaggering  tales  of  conquests  in  the  town. 

All  this  Shakespeare  drank  in  with  eager  ears,  and 
envied  the  fellow  his  knowledge  of  London  and  the 
court,  while  a  half- formed  plan,  which  he  hardly 
dared  to  foster,  took  root  in  his  brain. 

At  last  the  fever  broke  and  Roger  Covert  lay  on 
his  bed,  a  shadowy  wreck  of  a  man,  but  with  the 
light  of  reason  in  his  eyes.  As  he  gradually  con 
valesced  he  became  strangely  quiet,  and  answered 
the  questions  of  his  watchers  with  a  nod  of  his  head 
or  a  reply  in  monosyllables. 

At  the  end  of  a  month  he  was  on  his  feet  and  able 
to  walk  about  the  grounds.  His  health  and  strength 
were  fast  returning  and  he  determined  to  encroach 
no  longer  on  the  hospitality  of  his  benefactors.  He 
was  debating  how  to  slip  away  without  seeming  too 
ungrateful,  when  he  saw  William  and  his  father 
approaching  him,  while  the  young  man  was  dis 
coursing  eagerly,  and  evidently  pleading  for  some 
concession  from  his  parent. 

"Master  Covert,"  said  John  Shakespeare,"  you 
have  been  in  London,  my  lad  informs  me." 


Roger  "Under  Cover"  33 

"Full  many  a  time,  kind  sir,  and  it  is  a  most  noble 
city." 

"Are  you  acquaint  with  one  John  Florio,  a  teacher 
of  the  languages  ?" 

"A  famous  scholar.  I  know  him  by  reputation 
only." 

"William  journeys  to  London  next  month  to  place 
himself  under  the  tutelage  of  this  noted  instructor. 
He  had  intended  taking  John  Hallam  with  him  as 
his  serving-man,  but  since  your  advent  in  our  house 
hold  he  has  been  beseeching  me  to  engage  you  as 
his  squire,  and  has  been  dinning  your  praises  in  my 
ears.  What  think  you?  Would  it  content  you  to 
serve  him  in  such  capacity?" 

"Master  Shakespeare,  your  kindness  overwhelms 
me.  I  am  a  roystering  vagabond,  a  lack-wit,  a 
bibulous  knave,  unfit  to  keep  him  company,  and  by 
reason  of  this  late  begotten  scar,  too  villainous  of 
feature  to  ride  in  his  fair  presence." 

"Withal,  Master  Covert,  there  is  an  honest  twinkle 
in  your  eye,  and  I  think  we  may  depend  upon  your 
faith.  How  say  you  now  ?  Do  you  accept  or  no  ?" 

"With  all  my  heart !  and  if  ever  honest  man  arose 
from  swaggering  villain,  such  transformation  will 
now  ensue.  By  my  knowledge  of  the  pot-houses 
and  drinking-dens  of  wicked  London,  I  will  keep 
him  free  of  them;  by  my  gratitude  to  a  country 
squire  for  his  helping  hand  to  an  ill-deserving 
wretch,  I  will  serve  him  faithfully;  I  will  see  that 
he  is  neither  cheated  nor  abused,  I  will  ride  with 
him,  I  will  carry  for  him,  and  I  will  fight  for  him, 
Master  Shakespeare,  if  need  arise;  and  if  ever  it  be 
his  fortune  to  come  to  court,  through  my  knowledge 


34  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

of  the  weaknesses  of  many  of  the  noble  lords  and 
ladies  I  may  yet  do  him  a  good  turn." 

"Spoken  like  a  man,  Roger  Covert,  and  here  is 
my  hand  to  our  bargain." 

The  dishonoured  guardsman  bent  low  to  hide  his 
tears  of  gratitude,  as  their  hands  met  in  a  hearty 
clasp,  and  William  could  scarcely  conceal  his  delight 
at  the  happy  achievement  of  his  hopes. 

They  were  soon  deeply  engrossed  in  discussing 
their  plans  for  the  future,  and  Roger  was  holding 
forth  on  the  advantages  of  equipping  themselves 
lightly  as  to  clothing  and  purse,  and  heavily  as  to 
weapons  of  defense  while  on  the  road,  in  view  of  the 
attacks  of  plundering  highwaymen,  when  they  were 
most  strenuously  interrupted  by  weird  and  blatant 
noises  that  arose  from  the  neighborhood  of  the 
kitchen. 

They  ran  thence  in  great  alarm,  and  threw  open 
the  door,  only  to  see  John  Hallam  sitting  in  the 
middle  of  the  floor  and  blubbering  as  if  his  heart 
would  break,  for  the  poor  fellow  had  overheard  his 
master's  conversation  with  Roger,  and  the  realiza 
tion  that  he  would  have  to  forego  the  coveted  trip 
to  London  was  the  first  real  sorrow  that  he  had  ever 
experienced  in  all  his  simple  life. 


CHAPTER  III 
AN  INCIDENT  ON  THE  OLD  ROMAN  ROAD 

The  Romans,  in  their  early  occupation  of  England, 
unwittingly  constructed,  in  the  shape  of  broad  high 
ways  and  wide  road-beds,  more  lasting  monuments 
to  their  undying  fame  and  the  extent  of  their  con 
quests  than  any  of  the  miraculous  works  of  art  that 
grace  the  Pantheon,  or  after  being  covered  by  cen 
turies  of  ooze  at  the  bottom  of  the  ancient  River 
Tiber,  have  been  brought  to  light,  in  crumbling 
fragments,  by  the  efforts  of  the  modern  archaeologist. 
Even  to  the  present  day  these  marvelous  ways,  in 
perfect  state  of  preservation,  traverse  the  Isle  in 
many  directions,  and  no  doubt  will  furnish  to  ages 
of  posterity  easy  methods  of  travel  through  the 
fertile  shires. 

In  Warwickshire,  the  very  heart  of  the  Midlands, 
is  formed  the  junction  of  three  of  these  great  roads, 
the  arms  of  two  of  them  extending  from  Dover  to 
Chester  on  the  one  side,  and  from  Totmes  to  Lincoln 
on  the  other,  while  the  southern  road  runs  through 
Stratford,  and  across  the  great  Avon  Bridge,  thence 
southeast,  fording  many  lesser  streams,  but  stretch 
ing  steadily  onward  until  it  reaches  its  terminus,  the 
Queen's  great  city  of  London. 


36  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

One  gray  morning,  late  in  the  month  of  Septem 
ber,  two  horsemen  set  forth  from  the  town  of  Strat 
ford  and  took  the  southern  road.  They  walked  their 
horses  over  the  arches  of  the  Clopton  Bridge,  and 
arriving  at  its  middle  span,  halted  and  turned  in 
their  saddles,  looking  back  at  the  picturesque  village, 
and  at  the  humble  home,  in  front  of  which  John  and 
Mistress  Shakespeare  and  the  faithful  John  Hallam 
were  waving  them  a  sad  farewell.  They  doffed 
their  caps,  then  turned  and  spurred  their  horses  on, 
and  several  miles  had  sped  behind  them  ere  either 
felt  inclined  to  break  the  silence. 

They  were  well  mounted.  The  elder  man,  who 
was  our  friend  Roger  Covert,  was  plainly  attired  in 
brown  jerkin  and  hose,  with  cap  of  the  same  color, 
in  which  was  jauntily  fastened  a  white  cock's  feather. 
A  heavy  sword  dangled  at  his  side  and  in  his  belt 
were  stuck  two  monstrous  pistols,  which  he  had 
insisted  upon  purchasing  when  they  were  outfitting 
for  the  journey.  He  bestrode  a  large  black  horse 
whose  deep  chest  and  clean-cut  limbs  gave  evidence 
of  much  speed  and  endurance.  His  companion  and 
master,  young  Will  Shakespeare,  was  dressed  in  a 
suit  of  silver  gray,  and  rode  a  roan  horse  of  smaller 
body  though  no  less  swift-footed  than  Covert's  steed. 
He  wore  a  rapier,  which  seemed  rather  for  show 
than  defense,  and  a  single-barreled  pistol  was  stuck 
in  the  holster  of  his  saddle. 

They  had  skirted  Edge  Hill  and  had  crossed  the 
boundary  of  Warwickshire,  when  Roger  laid  his 
hand  upon  his  master's  rein  and  drew  the  galloping 
horses  to  a  trot. 


An  Incident  on  the  Old  Roman  Road          37 

\ 

"Master  Will,"  said  he,  "a  swift  start  makes  a 
long  journey.  We  must  proceed  at  a  more  even 
gait  or  the  horses  will  be  spent  ere  the  first  stage  is 
ended." 

"I  was  far  away  in  the  kingdom  of  my  thoughts, 
Roger,  and  I  noted  not  how  fast  we  sped.  I  was 
wondering  how  I  would  fare  in  busy  London,  and 
my  mind  dwelt  also  on  the  forest  of  Arden  where  I 
spent  so  many  happy  hours.  I  fear  a  country-bred 
youth  like  myself  will  be  sadly  out  of  place  midst 
the  culture  and  graces  of  a  great  city." 

"Nay,  Master  Will,  you  lack  but  one  quality  to 
make  you  a  famous  courtier.  You  are  handsome 
of  feature  and  form  and  bear  yourself  most  grace 
fully,  and  have  a  gentle  manner,  but  that  very  gentle 
ness  is  your  own  worst  enemy.  'Tis  the  overbear 
ing,  ruffling,  swaggering  gentleman  of  fortune  that 
wins  high  place  near  the  person  of  the  Queen.  The 
timid  gallant  is  soon  drowned  in  the  sea  of  his  own 
modesty.  You  must  cultivate  a  bluffer  manner, 
which  I've  no  doubt  you'll  do  ere  six  months  of 
London  environment  have  passed,  and  I  warrant 
you  that  you'll  pass  muster  with  the  best  of  them." 

"You  fill  me  with  strange  hopes,  Roger.  If  only 
at  some  future  day  I  might  become  attached  to  the 
royal  court,  and  be  of  some  slight  service  to  the 
Queen,  I  would  be  proud  indeed.  Ah!  you  must 
have  had  many  encounters  and  love  passages  with 
the  fair  ladies  of  the  royal  household." 

f  'Twere  hardly  a  common  guardsman's  privilege 
to  aspire  so  high,"  answered  Covert,  "but  in  my 
time,  I  warrant  you,  I  have  set  a-flutter  the  hearts 
and  hopes  of  a  few  dainty  damsels  of  lower  station. 


38  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

There  was  one,  however,  a  certain  Anne  Holcombe, 
but  recently  appointed  as  laundress  to  the  Queen,  a 
beauty  with  rosy  cheeks  and  flashing  eyes,  and  lips — 
ah !  that  I  might  sip  the  honey  of  those  ruby  lips ! 
I  was  sore  smitten  and  she  favored  me  'bove  all 
others  of  the  guard,  and  I  was  well  encouraged  to 
press  my  suit,  when  my  own  captain  unsuited  me, 
and  in  disgrace  I  left  the  court.  I  think  there  is  a 
tenderness  in  her  heart  for  me  even  yet,  and  if  ever 
fate  does  throw  me  in  royal  company  again,  I  will 
lay  bold  siege  to  the  citadel  of  her  love.  Heigho ! 
we  had  best  look  -alive,  or  all  our  simmering  hopes 
will  be  let  out  of  our  carcasses  by  the  bullet  of  some 
plundering  highwayman." 

"Do  they  infest  this  part  of  the  countryside, 
Roger?"  asked  Shakespeare  as  he  glanced  timidly 
over  his  shoulder. 

"Aye.  They  come  and  go.  Dost  see  that  moss- 
grown  oak  hard  by  the  roadside?"  he  asked  as  he 
pointed  to  a  giant  tree  some  forty  rods  ahead. 
"  'Twas  the  favourite  pillaging  place  of  a  robber 
whom  they  called  Trotting  Dick.'  He  would  calmly 
await  his  victims  behind  its  trunk,  and  as  a  coach 
containing  some  rich  and  gouty  merchant  and  his 
women- folk  would  approach,  he'd  ride  him  forth, 
and  with  pistol  at  aim  would  compel  the  frightened 
post-boys  to  rein  up  their  nags.  With  many  a  jibe 
for  the  gent  and  a  courteous  jest  for  the  ladies,  he 
would  relieve  them  of  their  wealth,  and  'tis  said  no 
hiding-place  was  sacred  to  him.  With  sweeping 
gesture  and  low  bow  to  the  dames  he  would  thank 
them  for  their  'charity,'  and  mounting  his  horse 
would  trot  slowly  away,  until  lost  to  sight  in  the 


An  Incident  on  the  Old  Roman  Road          39 

dust  of  the  highway,  and  never  once  would  deign 
to  turn  his  head,  though  many  a  shot  was  fired  after 
him  by  his  angry  prey.  Jack  Ketch  got  him  at  last, 
through  this  same  failing  of  his,  and  though  he  was 
badly  wounded,  he  was  made  to  ripen  as  fruit  of  the 
gallows-tree." 

As  they  passed  the  oak  Shakespeare  shuddered 
and  half  expected  to  see  some  ale-blown  knight  of  the 
road  ride  forth ;  but  nothing  occurred  to  disturb  the 
harmony  of  the  scene  and  they  rode  on  and  on,  past 
many  a  pretty  hamlet  and  lonely  farm,  while  Roger 
entertained  him  with  stories  of  the  road  and  showed 
him  many  points  of  historic  interest,  which  he 
viewed  with  eager  eyes. 

They  were  yet  some  dozen  miles  from  the  town 
of  Chipping,  when  Shakespeare's  horse  stumbled 
and  pulled  up  somewhat  lame. 

Roger  dismounted,  and  found  a  stone  in  the 
animal's  hoof,  which  he  removed;  and  as  he  knelt 
for  a  moment  in  the  dust,  saw  something  that  caused 
him  to  give  a  low  whistle  of  surprise. 

"What  ails  you,  Roger  ?"  asked  the  youth. 

"See,  Master  Will,  the  broad  marks  in  the  road 
way.  Some  gallant  coach  has  passed  within  the 
hour.  I  wonder  who  of  the  nobility  does  ride 
abroad.  The  wide  imprint  of  the  wheels  bespeaks 
a  heavy  equipage." 

He  remounted,  and  they  rode  slowly  forward  and 
up  a  long  rise  that  led  to  the  summit  of  a  rocky  knoll. 
Just  as  they  reached  the  top  the  loud  report  of  a 
pistol  fell  upon  their  ears  and  startled  their  horses, 
and  as  they  looked  down  the  road,  which  fell  in  a 
rapid  incline  to  the  valley  below,  they  saw  a  splendid 


40  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

coach  and  four,  one  of  whose  leaders  lay  upon  the 
ground  in  a  snorting  and  kicking  heap,  while  his 
companions  had  become  sadly  entangled  in  the  traces 
in  their  struggles  to  avoid  his  hoofs.  A  villainous- 
appearing  horseman  held  a  pistol  at  the  head  of  the 
foremost  post-boy  while  his  two  ruffianly  companions 
reined  their  horses  up  at  the  door  of  the  coach. 

With  Roger  Covert  to  witness  was  to  act,  and 
with  a  mighty  shout  of  "To  the  rescue!"  he  drew  a 
pistol  from  his  belt,  sank  spurs  into  his  horse's  flanks, 
and  thundered  madly  down  the  hill.  Shakespeare's 
horse  followed  of  his  own  accord  an  instant  later, 
for  the  youth  was  too  alarmed  to  know  what  he  did, 
and  soon  was  close  upon  his  companion's  flying  heels. 

Ere  the  robbers  realized  that  reinforcements  had 
arrived  the  rescuers  were  upon  them,  and,  with  a 
furious  oath,  Roger  discharged  his  pistol  at  their 
leader's  head.  The  ball  sped  true  and  he  dropped, 
a  mass  of  carrion  in  the  roadway.  His  companions, 
at  sight  of  this  disaster,  turned  tail  and  fled  at  full 
speed  on  the  highway,  with  their  riderless  horse 
rushing  after  them  in  a  panic  of  fear. 

Roger  thrust  his  smoking  pistol  in  Shakespeare's 
hand,  and  saying,  "Await  me  here,  Master  Will," 
drew  his  sword  and  galloped  in  pursuit  of  the  fleeing 
villains. 

As  the  youth  sat  his  horse,  too  perplexed  to  reckon 
on  his  future  movements,  the  heavy  door  of  the 
coach  swung  open,  and  an  elegant  gentleman  stepped 
out  upon  the  roadway.  He  was  tall,  of  command 
ing  presence,  and  his  curling  brown  locks,  small 
mustachio  and  pointed  beard,  barbered  in  the  latest 
style  affected  at  court,  and  his  clothing  of  rich  silken 


An  Incident  on  the  Old  Roman  Road          41 

texture,  heavily  bedecked  with  embroidery  and  rare 
lace,  proclaimed  him  to  be  of  the  nobility.  He 
seemed  to  be  scarce  thirty-five  years  old,  though  in 
truth  he  was  near  fifty.  He  advanced  toward  the 
lad,  a  kindly  light  shining  in  his  eye,  and  holding 
out  his  hand,  he  addressed  his  rescuer : 

"Young  master,  I  owe  you  my  life,"  he  said,  "and 
offer  you  a  thousand  thanks  for  your  opportune 
arrival  and  your  brave  rescue.  Methinks  those 
rascals  had  greater  designs  upon  me  than  the  mere 
pillage  of  my  purse.  There  are  one  or  two  of  my 
friends  at  court  would  give  a  pretty  penny  to  have 
me  removed  from  their  path.  But  indeed  you  are 
a  gallant  youth,  the  odds  were  long  against  you." 

"Noble  sir,"  said  the  lad,  "  'twas  not  my  hand 
that  compassed  their  confusion.  Their  flight  was 
due  to  the  bravery  of  my  companion,  who  still  pur 
sues  the  two  escaping  thieves." 

*  'Pon  my  faith  you  have  a  seemly  modesty." 

"I  have  more  fear  than  modesty,  my  Lord,  for  I 
am  all  of  a  tremble  at  our  narrow  escape." 

"And  a  courtly  wit,"  smiled  the  nobleman.  "I 
would  there  were  more  like  you  at  the  court  of  the 
Protestant  Queen.  First  you,  a  mere  stripling,  do 
let  out  the  brains  of  a  pothering  varlet,  and  then  you 
do  most  strenuously  deny  the  deed,  though  you  still 
hold  the  smoking  weapon  in  your  hand." 

"Nay,  sir;  Covert  killed  the  man,"  protested  the 
boy. 

"Tut !  tut !  Let  us  drop  the  farce.  You've  saved 
my  life  and  shall  not  go  unrewarded.  Whither  do 
you  journey?" 


42  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"To   London,    sir,    to   pursue   my   studies   with 
Master  Florio." 

"A  worthy  teacher,  patronized  by  the  nobility. 
What  is  your  name?" 

"Master  William  Shakespeare;  at  your  service, 
sir." 

"Well,  Master  Shakespeare,  belike  I  may  do  you 
a  good  turn  some  day.  Can  you  keep  a  trust  ?" 

"If  you  command  me,  sir." 

"Then,  my  lad,  you  must  first  know  that  I  am 
Lord  Robert  Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester.  Nay,  nay ! 
my  lad,  keep  on  your  cap.  I  am  at  the  head  of  an 
organization  banded  together  for  the  purpose  of 
protecting  the  person  of  Her  Royal  Highness  from 
the  attacks  of  conspirators.  Some  of  the  mightiest 
nobles  of  England  are  in  my  ranks.  At  the  court 
a  score  of  our  company  attend  the  Queen's  every 
movement,  though  without  exciting  the  suspicions 
of  the  ignorant  courtiers.  Our  agents  are  dis 
tributed  throughout  the  broad  land,  and  many  an 
incipient  plot  is  nipped  in  the  bud,  and  the  intending 
assassins  executed  without  understanding  how  they 
were  discovered.  Two  persons  only,  the  Queen  and 
myself,  hold  the  power  of  conferring  membership. 
'.Twill  promote  your  interest  mightily  to  be  within 
our  ranks  if  you  should  ever  come  to  court.  What 
say  you?  Will  you  join  us?" 

Master  Shakespeare  nigh  fell  off  his  horse  in  his 
joy  at  his  good  fortune. 

"My  Lord,"  said  he,  "it  is  a  great  honour  for  one 
so  humble.  But  I  fear  my  studies  will  suffer  in 
consequence." 


An  Incident  on  the  Old  Roman  Road          43 

"Nay,  you  need  only  to  keep  your  ears  open.  We 
will  not  require  active  service  of  you;  you  have 
already  served  your  Queen  in  saving  my  life  to-day." 

He  then  administered  an  oath  of  secrecy  to 
Shakespeare,  and  continued : 

"Our  society  is  called  the  Order  of  the  Mailed 
Hand,  and  our  watchword  is  'The  Queen's  Life/ 
By  our  rules  we  are  all  equal.  In  this  brotherhood 
of  ours  you  will  rank  with  the  highest  noble  on  its 
roll."  He  removed  a  jeweled  badge  from  his  wide 
collar,  and  showed  it  to  the  lad.  "This  is  our 
insignia,"  he  said.  "See,  the  gauntlet-encased  hand 
grasping  the  wrist  of  the  naked  one  which  holds  an 
unsheathed  dagger.  So  we  will  ward  off,  if  need 
be,  the  attacks  of  vile  plotters  upon  our  Queen. 
'Tis  a  pretty  bauble,  and  the  unknowing  ones  will 
credit  its  possession  to  your  vanity.  Wear  it  always, 
my  lad.  It  may  carry  you  to  many  a  high  place, 
and  through  deadly  peril,  and  your  comrades  will 
ever  extend  you  a  welcome  and  helping  hand." 

As  he  finished  he  stepped  to  the  youth's  side  and 
pinned  the  token  upon  his  sleeve,  laughing  merrily 
at  the  profuse  thanks  of  the  grateful  recipient. 

Meanwhile  the  post-boys  had,  with  considerable 
difficulty,  straightened  out  the  tangled  trappings, 
had  unhitched  the  horses  from  the  coach,  tying  them 
to  trees  at  the  side  of  the  road,  and  dragged  the  dead 
animal  off  the  highway.  They  went  through  the 
lifeless  robber's  pouch,  which,  to  their  disgust,  was 
empty,  and  they  tumbled  him  unceremoniously  into  a 
ditch,  after  one  of  them  had  secured  his  pistol. 

As  Leicester  turned  his  eye  upon  them  they  were 
looking  ruefully  at  the  three  horses,  and  wondering 


44  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

how  they  were  to  continue  their  journey  without 
abandoning  the  heavy  coach. 

"This  is  indeed  a  predicament,"  said  the  Earl. 
"If  we  could  only  get  to  Chipping  I  would  rest  over 
a  day  and  procure  fresh  horses.  I  am  loath  to 
abandon  my  conveyance." 

"Take  my  horse,  and  welcome,  my  Lord/'  said 
Shakespeare.  "My  companion,  I  hope,  will  soon 
overtake  us,  and  we  may  resume  our  journey  at  the 
town." 

"If  I  mistake  not,  he  is  coming  now,"  said  Dudley, 
screening  his  eyes  and  pointing  to  where  a  cloud  of 
dust  was  appearing  over  the  top  of  the  knoll.  "And 
may  the  pest  seize  me,  but  he  has  captured  a  prize!" 
he  shouted  joyfully,  as  Roger  hove  in  sight,  gallop 
ing  hard  and  leading  the  dead  highwayman's  horse 
by  his  bridle. 

As  he  drew  rein  in  front  of  the  coach  he  leapt  to 
the  ground,  and  as,  for  the  first  time,  he  caught 
sight  of  the  nobleman's  face,  he  jerked  his  cap  from 
his  head  and  stood  speechless  in  the  road. 

Dudley  looked  at  him  for  a  moment  with  a  twinkle 
in  his  eye. 

"You  are  that  hero  upon  whom  our  young  friend 
places  all  the  credit  of  this  adventure.  Have  we  not 
met  before,  in  different  surroundings?" 

Roger  Covert  hung  his  head,  but  answered  not. 

"Methinks  the  last  time  I  laid  eyes  upon  you  was 
some  three  months  gone,  when  I  saw  Walter  Raleigh 
strip  the  Queen's  uniform  from  your  back.  Do  I 
speak  truth?" 

"Yes,  my  Lord,"  was  the  humble  answer. 


An  Incident  on  the  Old  Roman  Road          45 

"And  since  then  your  beauty  has  not  increased; 
you  have  a  most  wicked  scar.  Dost  still  adhere  to 
thy  love  for  the  flowing  bowl  ?" 

"My  Lord,  my  throat  has  been  as  barren  of  liquor 
as  the  desert  is  of  moisture,  since  entering  Master 
Shakespeare's  service." 

"He  speaks  truth,  my  Lord,"  said  the  lad. 

"Covert,"  continued  his  Lordship,  "I  held  thee  a 
drunken  scoundrel,  but  now  I  know  that  you  are  a 
brave  man.  When  your  young  master  can  spare 
you,  come  to  me  and  I  will  use  my  influence  with 
Sir  Walter  to  have  you  reinstated  in  your  old  com 
pany  of  the  guards.  'Tis  wonderful  what  change 
a  lapse  from  prosperity  may  work  in  a  man." 

Roger  stammered  his  thanks,  and  would  have 
fallen  upon  his  knees  and  kissed  the  noble's  hand, 
but  Leicester  waved  him  away,  saying : 

"Reserve  your  devotions  for  the  damsels  of  the 
court.  We  will  trade  our  patronage  for  your  prize. 
Is  it  a  bargain?  My  intercession  with  Raleigh  in 
exchange  for  the  horse." 

He  laughingly  took  the  animal's  bridle,  and  calling 
one  of  the  post-boys,  ordered  him  to  hitch  it  in  the 
dead  one's  place,  and  to  make  haste,  that  they  might 
resume  their  journey. 

"You  may  attend  us  as  far  as  the  town,"  he  said, 
turning  to  Shakespeare,  "where  I  will  rest  me  for  a 
time.  No  doubt  you  will  be  eager  to  push  on  to 
London  from  there.  I  will  go  by  slower  stages,  and 
I  hope  that,  in  case  of  another  attack  by  highway 
men,  I  will  be  equally  fortunate  in  the  appearance 
of  a  rescuing  party.  Though  I  will  take  warning 
and  double  my  guard."  As  he  turned  to  enter  the 


46  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

waiting  coach  he  stepped  close  to  Will  Shakespeare, 
and  whispered  a  brief  sentence  in  his  ear,  "For  The 
Queen's  Life,'  "  then  with  a  laugh  he  crossed  the 
step  and  shut  the  heavy  door,  and  soon  the  party  was 
moving  briskly  along  toward  the  old  town. 

When  they  arrived  at  Chipping  the  post-boys 
guided  their  horses  to  the  royal  hostelry,  and  Leices 
ter  invited  his  companions  to  rest  and  refresh  them 
selves  ere  they  continued  their  journey.  He  bade 
them  a  hearty  farewell,  and  left  them  in  the  tap 
room,  going  upstairs  to  an  apartment  that  had  been 
prepared  in  expectation  of  his  arrival,  and  where  a 
bounteous  repast  was  soon  conveyed  to  him. 

As  Shakespeare  and  Covert  sat  at  a  table  and 
regaled  themselves  with  foaming  ale  and  a  delicious 
pasty,  Roger  caught  sight  of  the  jewel  that  adorned 
his  master's  arm.  He  said  nothing  at  first,  but 
finally  his  curiosity  got  the  best  of  him. 

"Where  got  you  the  pretty  medal,  Master  Will? 
Did  Robert  Dudley  give  it  to  you  ?" 

"Aye,  as  a  mark  of  his  favour/'  answered  the  lad, 
as  he  saw  that  the  badge  had  no  significance  in  his 
companion's  eyes. 

"Ah,  Master  Shakespeare,  this  morning's  work 
was  a  lucky  stroke  of  business  for  both  of  us.  Tis 
a  rare  and  wonderful  thing  to  be  under  the  patronage 
of  the  Queen's  favourite." 


CHAPTER  IV 
THE  DOMICIL  OF  FLORIO 

When  they  had  stayed  their  stomachs,  and  had 
given  their  faithful  horses  a  measure  of  oats, 
Shakespeare  and  Roger  Covert  gaily  set  forth  upon 
the  road,  letting  their  steeds  have  free  rein  while  they 
discussed  their  wonderful  encounter  with  the  robbers, 
of  which  their  heads  and  hearts  were  full. 

"Ah,  Master  Will,  it  was  marvelous  the  way  you 
let  daylight  into  the  highwayman's  skull,"  laughed 
Roger,  slyly  winking  at  his  companion.  "I  warned 
you  once  that  you  were  too  modest ;  you  should  have 
taken  full  credit  for  the  deed." 

"And  in  that  case  what  would  have  become  of 
your  appointment  in  Sir  Walter's  guards?"  quickly 
retorted  Shakespeare. 

"Aye,  'tis  true  enough,  Master  Will.  You  have 
me  there.  I  will  plague  you  no  more,  but  will  most 
humbly  tender  my  thanks  for  your  honesty,  and 
crave  your  pardon  for  my  forwardness." 

"  'Tis  freely  granted,  Roger.  'Twas  a  lucky  hap 
pening  when  we  found  you  wounded  by  the  road, 
for  what  would  have  fared  me  to-day  were  John 
Hallam  my  squire?  I  cannot  bear  to  think  on  it. 
I  can  see  the  poor  booby  dropping  off  his  horse  at 
sound  of  the  pistol,  and  falling  on  his  knees  in  the 


48  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

dust  to  say  his  prayers,  while  I  dare  not  picture  my 
own  fright.  I  was  sadly  demoralized  until  you  set 
me  a  pattern  by  your  ready  wit  and  your  brave  rush 
to  the  rescue." 

"I  simply  followed  the  old  motto  of  my  company, 
'He  who  strikes  first  wins  the  day/  and  gave  the 
varlets  no  time  to  prepare  against  our  onset." 

They  rode  on  in  peace  until  late  in  the  afternoon, 
when  they  saw  the  spires  and  gables  of  Oxford  in 
the  distance. 

"We  will  rest  there  to-night,"  said  Roger,  "and 
I  trust  we  may  find  accommodation  for  ourselves 
and  horses.  I  will  spur  me  on  ahead,  that  I  may 
arrange  for  it  with  mine  host  of  the  inn." 

He  galloped  forward  swiftly,  and  Shakespeare 
followed  at  a  leisurely  pace.  As  he  rode  up  to  the 
tavern  he  heard  loud  voices  in  angry  debate,  and 
saw  several  handsome  steeds  tethered  to  the  hitch- 
ing-post. 

"Confound  you,  old  pottle-nose !"  he  heard  Covert 
shout,  "I  care  not  how  many  earls  or  churls  you  have 
under  your  roof.  I  seek  accommodation  for  an 
honest  gentleman  and  his  servant,  and,  by  the  gods, 
you'll  squeeze  us  in,  and  give  us  a  capon  and  a 
bumper,  or  I'll  spit  you  on  my  good  sword,  you 
reeking  wine-sop,  and  baste  you  in  your  own  ale 
over  the  kitchen  fire !" 

"Ho,  ho !  Not  so  fast,  young  fire-eater,"  said  the 
fat  and  waddling  landlord ;  "it  takes  two  to  make  a 
bargain.  I've  told  you  my  house  is  full.  What  ho ! 
inside  there !  I'll  set  the  earl's  attendants  upon  you 
and  have  you  soundly  drubbed  and  run  out  of  the 
township." 


The  Domicil  of  Florio  49 

At  sound  of  his  clatter  a  handsome  young  lad 
appeared  in  the  doorway,  holding  a  mug  of  ale  in 
his  hand,  and  smacking  his  lips,  while  three  burly 
soldiers  followed  at  his  heels. 

"What  the  Devil  is  the  meaning  of  all  this 
babbling,  landlord?  I  thought  you  were  being 
eaten  alive  by  the  way  you  bawled  and  sputtered." 

"Your  Grace,"  said  the  inn-keeper,  bowing  low, 
"this  surly  fellow  insists  upon  being*  bedded  and 
boarded,  though  I  have  assured  him  thrice  that  my 
house  is  full.  Set  your  men  upon  him,  that  we  may 
be  rid  of  his  presence." 

"That  would  be  a  trifle  severe,  Master  Weaver. 
Let  him  go  his  way  in  peace;  though  stay,  if  he 
would  sleep  upon  the  floor  we  might  spare  him  a 
bite  and  a  sup  from  our  table." 

At  this  the  landlord  cringed  and  bowed,  and 
Shakespeare  rode  hastily  forward,  saying: 

"We  crave  no  better  fare,  sir,  and  will  be  grateful 
indeed  if  we  may  be  allowed  to  rest  here  over  night, 
as  we  resume  our  journey  at  sunrise." 

During  his  speech  the  young  nobleman  had  been 
eyeing  him  curiously,  and  as  a  ray  of  the  setting  sun 
fell  athwart  his  sleeve,  he  dropped  his  ale-cup  and 
rushed  forward,  seizing  Will  by  the  hand  as  he  said 
in  a  low  voice,  "I  see  that  you  ride  also  for  'The 
Queen's  Life,'  and  secretly  turning  back  a  fold  of 
his  cuff,  he  displayed  to  Shakespeare's  view  a 
jeweled  counterpart  of  Leicester's  token;  then  turn 
ing  to  the  landlord,  he  shouted  : 

"Make  haste,  you  fat  varlet,  and  put  a  fresh  roast 
upon  the  spit,  and  broach  a  keg  of  your  best  ale. 


50  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

These  are  my  guests  and  this  gentleman  will  share 
my  own  apartment  over  night,  while  his  man  will 
sup  with  my  attendants." 

The  travelers  gladly  dismounted,  while  the  land 
lord  waddled  into  the  tavern,  shouting  his  orders  to 
the  servants ;  and  a  stupid  choreboy  ran  out  to  look 
after  the  horses. 

"The  charm  is  in  truth  a  wonder-worker,"  thought 
young  Shakespeare,  as  he  followed  the  lad  into  the 
tavern. 

An  hour  later  they  sat  at  table  in  the  best  room 
of  the  inn,  and  with  the  healthy  appetites  of  youth 
discussed  the  savory  viands  of  Master  Weaver's 
larder. 

The  young  man  tilted  back  his  chair  and  raised  a 
foaming  mug  of  ale  on  high,  saying : 

"My  friend,  I  pledge  thee  to  our  better  acquaint 
ance."  Then,  as  he  tossed  off  the  contents,  he  con 
tinued,  "I  am  Henry  Wriothesley,  Earl  of  South 
ampton,  successor  to  my  father's  title  upon  his 
recent  death,  and  on  my  road  to  London  from  a  visit 
to  a  kinsman  in  this  neighborhood." 

"And  my  name  is  William  Shakespeare,"  said  the 
other,  "of  Stratford-on-Avon,  and  I  travel  also  to 
the  city,  where  I  expect  to  spend  the  next  two  years 
under  the  roof  of  Master  John  Florio." 

"By  Gad,  we  are  well  met  then!"  shouted 
Wriothesley,  as  he  struck  the  table  a  sounding  blow 
with  his  clenched  fist.  "  Tis  the  very  tag  ^  and 
purpose  of  my  own  journey.  My  education  is  to 
be  completed  at  John  Florio's  hands,  and  you  will 
bear  me  company  on  the  way,  and  we  will  be  com 
rades  at  the  school." 


The  Domicil  of  Florio  51 

The  happy  youth  jumped  up  from  his  seat  and 
capered  about  the  room,  and  in  the  exuberance  of 
his  boyish  spirits  fairly  embraced  his  newly  found 
and  somewhat  shyer  friend. 

"Why,  until  now,"  he  said,  "I  held  my  sojourn 
there  in  deepest  dread ;  but  we  will  have  a  merry  time 
together  and  somewhat  atone  for  the  rigors  of  our 
daily  tasks.  We  will  find  another  member  of  our 
society  at  the  pedagogue's — young  Robert  Devereux, 
Earl  of  Essex.  I  received  a  post  from  him,  telling 
me  that  he  was  soon  to  go  to  court,  as  his  lessons 
were  near  finished,  and  I  was  bemoaning  my  advent 
amongst  strangers,  when  suddenly  my  gloom  is 
dissipated  by  your  fortunate  arrival." 

"Even  I  am  almost  a  stranger  to  you,"  said 
Shakespeare. 

"Nonsense!  Do  you  not  belong  to  our  brother 
hood,  the  strongest  organization  in  Her  Majesty's 
realm?  And  that  aside,  your  gentle  features  and 
modest  carriage  do  command  the  fullest  limits  of 
my  confidence." 

"And  it  will  not  be  violated,  your  Grace,"  heartily 
responded  his  auditor. 

"Away  with  all  titles!  I  tell  you  we  rank  as 
equals  in  our  common  cause.  Hereafter  you  will 
name  me  Henry,  and  I  shall  call  you  Will,  and 
for  that  matter  I  know  you  will  far  surpass  me 
in  our  studies  at  the  school,  for  I  do  most  mightily 
hate  the  look  and  tone  of  written  tablets.  My  head 
is  full  of  nature,  and  of  the  love  of  life  and  trees 
and  flowers,  of  pretty  girls,  and  babbling  brooks, 
and  I  fear  the  restrictions  of  the  school- room  will 


52  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

greatly  irk  me,  though  I  know  I  will  take  kindly 
to  the  instruction  of  the  foils  and  the  duello." 

"The  reading  of  the  languages  will  better  suit 
me,"  said  Will.  "I  have  long  had  much  desire  to 
study  the  poetry  of  the  Italian  tongue." 

"Aye,  but  a  man  must  learn  also  to  defend  him 
self  if  he  would  tarry  long  at  court.  In  these  days 
of  intrigue  and  deceit  one  never  knows  when  he 
may  fall  the  victim  of  some  sudden  attack,  that  he 
may  clear  the  way  for  a  jealous  rival's  advance  to 
fame  and  fortune.  A  ready  wit  and  a  quick  eye, 
backed  up  by  some  slight  knowledge  of  the  sword, 
will  keep  a  man  longer  alive  than  the  foul-tasting 
potions  of  a  philandering  chirurgeon." 

"You  are  right,  Henry,"  agreed  his  friend,  "we 
must  become  proficient  in  all  the  branches.  The  evil 
attacks  of  slanderous  tongues  are  often  voided  of 
stings  by  adroit  answers.  But  in  case  such  course 
should  fail,  'tis  well  to  have  a  good  sword  hand  to 
rely  upon." 

The  lads  lingered  over  their  meal  until  late  at 
night,  making  joyous  plans  for  the  future,  and  it 
was  only  the  thought  of  an  early  start  in  the  morn 
ing  that  caused  them  to  seek  their  pallets,  where 
they  slept  soundly  until  awakened  by  the  lusty  voice 
of  Covert,  ere  the  sun  had  dissipated  the  gray  shad 
ows  of  the  September  dawn. 

"Come,  my  masters,  a  steaming  brew  awaits  you. 
Arise  and  robe  yourselves.  We  have  a  long  stretch 
to  ride  before  we  reach  the  London  gate,"  he 
shouted,  and  clattered  down  the  stairs  to  feed  the 
horses  and  saddle  them  for  the  journey. 


The  Domicil  of  Florio  53 

In  the  uncertain  morning  light  the  party  set  forth 
upon  the  road,  the  Earl  and  Will  Shakespeare  riding 
side  by  side,  while  Roger  and  the  young  nobleman's 
attendants  followed  at  a  respectful  distance. 

The  day  passed  without  further  incident  to  break 
the  tedium  of  their  march.  They  traveled  slowly, 
passing  through  constantly  busier  scenes ;  stopped  for 
a  brief  rest  at  Great  Marlow,  and  for  refreshment  for 
both  man  and  beast  at  Uxbridge,  and  traversed  the 
final  stage  of  their  journey  picking  their  way 
through  the  hurrying  crowds  of  horsemen  and  foot 
passengers  that  filled  the  road  in  the  County  Middle 
sex,  and  arriving  late  in  the  afternoon  at  High  Gate, 
the  famous  portal  of  the  great  city  of  London. 

They  halted  and  surveyed  the  enormous  metropo 
lis,  stretching  far  away  to  the  southeast,  its  myriad 
spires  and  gables  appearing  to  their  astounded  view 
in  an  endless  sea  of  architecture. 

"  Tis  a  noble  city,  Will,"  said  Wriothesley;  "we 
must  inquire  our  way  if  we  would  find  Master 
Florio's  house  ere  darkness  falls." 

"Your  Grace,"  said  Roger,  touching  his  cap,  "I 
know  it  full  well.  John  Florio's  establishment  is  in 
North  London,  hard  by  the  Lincoln  Inn,  and  I  can 
guide  you  thither." 

"You  are  our  savior,"  said  the  Earl.  "Lead  the 
way." 

They  passed  through  many  crooked  and  narrow 
streets,  at  last  entering  upon  Woburn  Lane.  They 
followed  its  winding  way,  passing  to  the  rear  of  the 
famous  Inn,  and  reining  up  their  horses  before  a 
rambling  old  house  of  two  stories,  having  a  long 
court  in  the  rear,  the  high  stone  wall  of  which  was 


54  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

thickly  covered  with  ivy  and  flowering  vines.  Mas 
ter  Florio  himself  answered  their  summons,  and 
cordially  welcomed  them  to  his  abode.  He  was  a 
tall,  dignified  gentleman,  somewhat  past  the  middle 
age.  He  was  dressed  in  a  simple  but  elegant  suit 
of  black,  his  only  adornment  being  the  handsome 
silver  buckles  of  his  satin  knee-breeches.  His  iron- 
gray  moustache  and  pointed  beard  of  foreign  cut, 
and  the  full  rich  tones  of  his  melodious  voice, 
slightly  tinged  with  an  Italian  accent,  denoted  his 
nationality. 

"Young  gentlemen/'  said  he,  "you  have  come  in 
the  nick  of  time.  Essex  expected  you  ere  this,  Sir 
Henry.  Our  classes  begin  to-morrow,  and  with 
your  arrival  our  complement  is  made.  You  had  best 
spend  your  evening,  after  refreshment,  in  meeting 
your  associates.  Juliet,"  he  called,  and  a  handsome 
girl  of  eighteen,  with  oval  cheeks  and  lustrous  black 
hair  and  eyes  ran  to  answer  his  summons.  "My 
Lord  Henry  Wriothesley,  Earl  of  Southampton, 
and  Master  William  Shakespeare — my  daughter 
Juliet,'  he  said,  pinching  her  fair  cheek. 

She  curtseyed  low,  and  the  young  earl  stared  at 
her  open-mouthed,  a  fierce  admiration  for  her  beauty 
leaping  to  his  eager  eyes. 

"Juliet,  accompany  these  young  sirs  to  the  dining- 
hall,  and  give  orders  for  their  service;  while  I  will 
provide  accommodation  for  their  servants  in  the 
scullery." 

As  they  followed  the  demure  maiden  down  the 
broad  corridor,  Henry  grasped  Shakespeare's  arm, 
whispering : 


The  Domicil  of  Florio  55 

"She  is  the  breath  of  heaven,  Will.  Didst  notice 
her  lovely  eyes  ?  In  their  liquid  depths  there  shines 
the  soul  of  an  angel,  and  when  she  dropped  her 
fringing  lashes  as  she  curtseyed  her  greeting  to  us, 
my  breath  near  left  my  body  in  my  admiration/' 

"Take  care,  Henry,  or  you  will  lose  your  heart 
before  you  learn  her  language,"  Will  laughingly 
whispered. 

"Upon  my  soul,  I  believe  I  have  done  so  already," 
answered  the  Earl.  "The  language  of  love  needs  no 
translation." 

They  entered  the  dining-hall,  and  to  their  sur 
prise  Juliet  addressed  them  in  English  as  pure  as 
their  own,  indicating  places  for  them  at  table,  and 
leaving  them  with  an  apology  as  she  hurried  to  give 
her  orders  for  their  repast. 

She  had  scarcely  departed  when  there  was  a  hasty 
footstep  at  the  door,  and  a  tall  and  handsome  youth 
rushed  in  and  fell  upon  Wriothesley,  wringing  his 
hand  and  embracing  him  as  he  welcomed  him  to  the 
fold.  He  was  about  the  same  age  as  the  young  Earl, 
though  he  looked  fully  as  old  as  Will  Shakespeare, 
who  was  in  reality  three  years  his  senior.  Albeit 
he  was  a  good-humored  lad,  he  lacked  the  bubbling 
spirits  and  boyish  vivacity  of  Henry.  He  was  of 
heavy  build  and  more  dignified  mien,  though  to  his 
friends  he  was  pleasant  and  steadfast  ever. 

When  the  joy  of  their  first  meeting  had  somewhat 
subsided  Henry  remembered  his  companion. 

"Robert,"  he  said,  "this  is  William  Shakespeare, 
a  member  of  our  brotherhood,  and  my  very  good 
friend.  Will,  I  have  spoken  to  you  of  Robert  Dev- 
ereux,  Earl  of  Essex." 


56  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

They  greeted  each  other  cordially,  and  from  that 
moment  the  friendship  of  the  three  youths  was 
firmly  cemented,  though  it  was  to  be  put  to  the  test 
many  times  in  the  years  to  come. 

After  they  had  sated  their  hunger,  Robert  Deve- 
reux  showed  them  about  the  house  and  grounds. 

First,  he  took  them  to  a  broad  room,  where  there 
were  several  benches,  a  crayon-board,  and  sundry 
globes  and  maps  of  various  countries. 

"This  is  where  we  recite  our  lessons,"  said  he, 
and  Henry  quickly  spoke  up,  saying : 

"Then  let  us  not  tarry  here  until  we  have  to, 
Robert.  Show  us  some  more  interesting  scene." 

"I  will  take  you  to  the  fencing-room,  young  lazy 
bones,"  said  Devereux;  "perhaps  'twill  suit  your 
fancy  better." 

They  followed  him  to  a  spacious  hall,  with  high 
ceiling,  whose  handsomely  carved  walls  were  hung 
with  swords  and  ancient  weapons,  while  figures  of 
men  in  armor  ranged  round  the  room  in  stern  array. 
At  one  end  there  stood  a  rack  of  foils  with  basket 
hilts  and  leaden  points,  and  a  score  of  wire  masks 
hung  in  a  corner.  Two  dummies,  the  size  of  men, 
were  fastened  to  the  floor,  their  bodies  and  heads 
penciled  with  many  figures,  red  hearts  painted  on 
their  left  breasts,  and  cut  and  nicked  with  innumer 
able  marks  as  a  result  of  their  daily  contact  with  the 
pupils'  rapiers. 

"Ah!  This  is  something  like!"  shouted  Henry, 
seizing  a  foil,  and  leaping  and  thrusting  at  the  dum 
mies  until  Devereux  laughingly  grasped  his  arm 
and  took  the  weapon  away  from  him. 


The  Domicil  of  Florio  57 

Next  they  went  to  a  narrow  alley  at  the  rear  wall 
of  the  garden,  where  they  saw  some  targets  and 
another  dummy  made  of  iron. 

"Here  you  will  indulge  in  pistol  practice,"  said 
Essex.  "  '.Tis  the  only  place  of  its  kind  in  London. 
You  see  Florio's  school  has  its  advantages." 

After  examining  with  curiosity  the  cumbersome 
weapons,  and  handling  and  sighting  them  to  their 
heart's  content,  they  went  into  the  garden,  and 
seated  themselves  on  a  bench  midst  fragrant  roses 
and  beautiful  plants.  The  back  of  the  house  was 
covered  with  ivy,  a  small  balcony  furnishing  egress 
from  the  first-story  windows,  where  one  might  take 
the  air,  and  whose  railing  was  hidden  from  view 
by  the  tangled  vines  that  hung  in  clustering  masses 
from  its  whole  length  and  trailed  upon  the  scented 
earth  beneath. 

"A  beautiful  spot,"  sighed  Henry,  "in  which  to 
weave  a  romance  or  to  woo  a  maid." 

"Are  you  suffering  from  an  attack  of  the  vapours, 
Wriothesley  ?"  asked  Essex.  "You  will  soon  be 
cured  once  Master  Florio  sets  you  at  your  tasks." 

They  were  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  a  crowd 
of  gay  youths  into  the  garden,  and  the  new-comers 
were  soon  busy  with  introductions,  and  spent  the 
time  in  conversation  with  their  fellow-students  until 
the  darkness  fell. 

For  the  following  year  the  youths  remained  under 
the  tutelage  of  Master  Florio.  They  studied  the 
languages,  in  which  Wriothesley  was  a  poor  scholar, 
Devereux  a  fair  one,  and  Shakespeare  an  ardent 
searcher  after  the  knowledge  of  the  foreign  tongues. 
In  etiquette  and  dancing  they  were  all  apt  pupils,  for 


58  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

each  possessed  an  inborn  grace  that  rendered  them 
singularly  alike.  Shakespeare  was  the  poorest 
swordsman  of  the  three,  though  he  did  passably 
well,  and  owed  his  lack  of  perfection  to  the  small 
time  spent  in  the  fencing-room.  Devereux  and 
Wriothesley  vied  with  each  other  as  to  the  suprem 
acy  of  that  branch  of  the  school.  As  the  very 
latest  innovation  in  Paris  was  the  equal  use  of 
either  the  right  or  the  left  hand  in  the  duello,  the 
French  master  instructed  his  pupils  accordingly. 
Henry  became  an  expert  with  his  right  hand,  but 
could  never  overcome  an  awkwardness  in  using 
the  other,  though  at  that  he  was  the  master  of 
all  in  the  school  save  Robert.  Devereux  learned 
equally  well  with  either  hand,  and  his  instructor 
often  told  him  with  great  pride  that  he  would  in 
time  become  the  equal  of  any  swordsman  in  the  land. 

Will  Shakespeare  was  Master  Florio's  favourite 
pupil.  His  mentality  was  far  above  the  rest.  With 
remarkable  memory  he  had  almost  mastered  the 
Italian  tongue,  and  he  had  an  imagination  that  sur 
prised  and  delighted  the  romantic  nature  of  his 
instructor,  who  encouraged  the  youth  to  give  it  full 
scope. 

In  his  studies  of  ancient  literature  he  wove  many 
wonderful  accounts  about  the  mythical  characters, 
and  under  his  master's  direction  wrote  a  dialogue  to 
be  produced  at  Christmas-tide  by  the  youths  of  the 
school.  It  abounded  with  such  sparkling  wit,  and 
contained  so  much  of  originality  and  elegance  in  its 
conception  that  it  proved  the  wonder  of  the  pupils 
and  the  select  audience  that  attended  its  rendition. 

When  John  Florio  witnessed  this  little  play  he 


The  Domicil  of  Florio  59 

realized  that  the  gentle  youth  had  in  his  marvelous 
intellect  the  foundation  of  great  fame,  and  he  advised 
him  to  forego  any  further  practise  of  the  sword 
and  pistol,  and  to  spend  his  time  in  the  building  up 
of  plays,  interweaving  the  famous  personages  of 
history  in  his  romances. 

This  latter  occupation  was  carried  on  with  the 
knowledge  of  none  save  the  master  and  Shakes 
peare's  two  friends,  whose  admiration  for  him 
increased  daily,  and  who  predicted  a  brilliant  future 
for  him. 

At  the  end  of  the  year,  Essex,  wrho  had  been  much 
longer  at  the  school  than  Henry  and  William,  fin 
ished  his  course  and  took  his  departure,  as  he  was 
called  to  the  Queen's  court.  He  bade  the  lads  a  fond 
farewell,  promising  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  further 
their  future  interests  with  the  Queen,  and  with  the 
hope  of  meeting  them  again  in  the  royal  train  ere 
another  term  at  the  school  had  elapsed. 

During  the  succeeding  year,  Wriothesley  spent 
much  of  his  time  in  the  fencing-room,  and  more  of 
it  in  ardent  love  passages  with  the  coy  Juliet,  who 
realized  the  difference  in  their  stations,  and,  though 
in  truth  her  heart  was  touched  by  the  youth's  hand 
some  face  and  impetuous  wooing,  she  gave  him  but 
little  encouragement,  which,  instead  of  dampening 
his  ardor,  seemed  indeed  to  add  fuel  to  the  flame 
that  burned  in  his  breast. 

Shakespeare  had  often  been  much  amused  by  the 
antics  of  a  portly  fop  who  passed  daily  by  the  school, 
and  who  leered  and  smiled  at  two  decent  matrons 
as  they  stood  at  gossip  every  morning  on  their 
stoops.  He  had  embodied  the  incident  in  a  play 


60  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

that  he  had  been  writing,  and  upon  its  completion  he 
submitted  it  to  Florio. 

The  master  read  it  from  beginning  to  end  with 
many  a  chuckle  and  ejaculation  of  praise. 

"Wonderful !  Wonderful  I"  he  said,  when  he  had 
finished.  "Master  Shakespeare,  you  are  a  born 
genius.  We  must  arrange  for  a  production  before 
the  Queen.  If  once  her  laughter  is  aroused  by  this 
inimitable  comedy  of  your  fat  fool,  your  fortune 
will  be  assured  and  the  patronage  of  my  school 
increased  a  thousand-fold.  I  have  the  very  method 
in  my  brain.  My  advices  from  Windsor  inform  me 
that  Robert  Devereux's  favour  with  the  Queen  is 
second  only  to  that  of  Leicester.  We'll  send  the 
play  to  him,  and  his  influence  with  Her  Majesty 
will  be  a  powerful  lever  to  insure  your  entrance  at 
court." 

Accordingly  the  manuscript  was  despatched  by 
post  to  Essex,  with  a  letter  from  Master  Florio  stat 
ing  his  plan  to  bring  William  to  the  notice  of 
Elizabeth. 

In  a  few  days  a  messenger  arrived  with  a  sealed 
missive  for  the  tutor,  which  he  broke  open  in  the 
presence  of  Shakespeare  and  read  the  following : 

Jno.  Florio,  Esqyre, 

Deare  Friend  and  Master : 

Your  letter  came  to  me,  and  Will 

Shakespeare's  most  amusing  play  therewythe.  I  have  laughed 
until  my  sides  are  sore  at  the  antics  of  "Ye  Merry  Wives  of 
Windsor"  with  that  pussy  shrew,  Falstaff. 

In  accordance  wythe  your  request  I  did  gain  audience  wythe 
the  Queen,  and  did  recount  to  her  some  of  its  most  ludicrous 
passages.  Her  interest  was  aroused  at  once,  and  she  asked  that 
she  might  read  the  play.  I  falsely  told  her  that  I  had  sent  back 
the  manuscript,  but  if  she  would  cause  a  curtain  and  a  scene  to 


The  Domicil  of  Florio  61 

be  contrived  in  the  palace,  I  would  arrange  for  its  production 
before  her  court,  she  recompensing  the  play-actors  for  their 
caperings,  whilst  I  would  undertake  to  present  Will  Shakes 
peare  to  her  august  self. 

So  if  you  will  send  Shakespeare  and  Southampton  to  fare 
wythe  me  at  Windsor,  and  will  come,  your  honored  self,  to 
direct  the  selection  and  the  training  of  the  mummers,  I  will 
engage  that  in  a  four  week's  lapse  the  comedy  be  shewn  the 
Virgin  Queen. 

I  awaite  your  appearance  wythe  eagerness. 
I  sign  myself,  kinde  master, 

Your  humble  servant, 

Robert  Devereux,  Earl  of  Essex. 

P.  S. — Greet  William  and  Henry,  also  your  faire  daughter  in 
my  behalf. 

Florio's  delight  at  the  success  of  Essex  knew  no 
bounds,  and  he  immediately  set  to  work  in  prepara 
tion  for  their  journey  to  the  castle. 

Shakespeare  walked  on  air.  He  began  to  believe 
in  the  realization  of  the  hopes  of  his  youth,  and 
though  his  joy  was  subdued,  it  was  no  less  certain 
than  his  tutor's. 

Southampton,  alone,  displayed  a  moody  counte 
nance,  though  his  friend  half  guessed  its  cause,  and 
felt  no  pangs  at  his  apparent  lack  of  interest  in  the 
play.  Finally  their  plans  were  completed,  and  the 
morrow  was  set  for  their  leave-taking. 

Shakespeare  had  changed  much  in  the  two  years 
since  last  we  saw  him  on  the  road  to  the  metropolis. 
He  dressed  in  the  latest  London  style,  wore  a  small 
mustachio  and  a  slight  and  pointed  beard,  and 
with  his  high  and  noble  forehead,  and  clustering 
locks,  falling  almost  to  his  shoulders,  he  was  as  hand 
some  a  youth  as  could  be  found  in  a  day's  journey 
through  England.  He  had  been  walking  in  the  twi 
light  on  this  eve  of  their  departure,  and  had  seated 


62  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

himself  on  the  bench  in  his  master's  garden  amongst 
the  scented  roses,  wondering  if  this  was  to  be  his 
final  adieu  to  the  happiest  moments  of  his  life.  The 
moon  arose  and  lit  the  pretty  garden  with  its  gentle 
radiance  ere  he  awoke  from  his  musing  and  rose 
with  the  determination  of  seeking  Wriothesley.  He 
stopped  short  as  he  heard  a  voice  humming  lowly, 
and  looking  toward  the  house,  beheld  his  friend 
underneath  the  balcony,  and  caught  the  words  of  the 
song: 

"Oh,  my  lady  fair 
Come  take  the  air, 
'Neath  the  gentle  moon's  soft  ray, 
For  to-morrow,  dear, 
I'll  be  far  from  here, 
And  I  would  hear  thee  say: 
'I  love  thee,  lad, 
And  my  heart  is  sad 
That  you  leave  me  here  alone; 
By  my  love  for  thee, 
Come  back  to  me 
Ere  many  moons  have  flown.' " 

As  the  voice  ceased,  the  window  was  pushed  open, 
and  Juliet  Florio  stepped  wonderingly  out  upon  the 
balcony.  She  was  clad  in  a  simple  white  gown,  and 
her  beautiful  hair  fell  softly  around  her  throat  and 
shoulders.  When  she  saw  Wriothesley  beneath  she 
kneeled  on  the  balcony,  leaning  her  snowy  arms  on 
the  low  rail  and  resting  her  head  upon  them,  as  with 
drooping  lashes,  she  spoke : 

"My  Lord,  why  do  you  sing  'neath  my  window  ?" 

"Rather  call  me  'thy  love,'  Juliet.     To-morrow  T 

leave  your  father's  home,  perhaps  forever;  but  before 

I  go  my  bursting  heart  demands  your  answer  to  a 

question  that  my  reason  tells  me  is  absurd." 


The  Domicil  of  Florio  63 

"Reason  does  not  always  sway  us,  my  Lord/*  was 
the  timid  reply. 

Southampton  raised  his  head,  the  light  of  hope 
shining  in  his  eyes. 

"Juliet,  dost  love  me,  and  wilt  thou  be  my  wife  ?" 
he  said. 

"My  Lord,  my  humble  station  is  a  barrier  between 
us  that  may  never  be  surmounted/'  was  the  gentle 
answer.  "Were  I  your  equal,  I  would  gladly  cry 
my  answer  to  the  world." 

"And  that  answer  would  be — ?" 

"I  love  thee,  Henry,"  and  she  buried  her  face  in 
her  arms. 

"My  dear  love,"  said  he,  his  voice  a-tremble  with 
exultant  joy,  "by  the  silver  moon,  and  the  stars 
that  attend  her  in  her  voyage  in  infinity,  I  swear 
that  I  will  marry  you  and  honour  you  as  my  noble 
wife  before  the  whole  world.  What  care  I  for  the 
intrigues  or  mock  honours  of  a  court  that  is  rotten  to 
the  core?  We  will  live  in  the  kingdom  of  our  love, 
and  if  the  mighty  Elizabeth  sees  fit  to  interfere,  she 
may  have  my  title  to  bestow  upon  some  pampered 
fool,  but  I  will  hold  my  wife,  content  to  live  and  love 
with  her,  as  tenant  of  the  humblest  hamlet  in  South- 
amptonshire." 

He  said  no  more,  but  seized  the  clinging  ivy  and 
lifted  himself  to  the  low  balcony,  and  leaning  upon 
the  outer  sill  he  raised  his  arms  and  drew  her  dear 
face  close  to  his  own,  pouring  forth  all  his  love  upon 
her  clinging  lips  in  one  masterful  and  mighty  kiss. 

Then  he  dropped  gently  to  the  ground  and  strode 
silently  away  to  the  student's  portion  of  the  house, 
while  Juliet  remained  enraptured  on  the  balcony,  the 
joy  of  perfect  happiness  shining  on  her  lovely  face. 


CHAPTER  V 
THE  COURT  OF  THE  VIRGIN 

In  the  great  throne-room  of  the  Queen's  castle  at 
Windsor,  Robert  Devereux,  Henry  Wriothesley 
and  Will  Shakespeare  stood  amidst  a  throng  of  sim 
pering  courtiers  and  overdressed  dandies,  eagerly 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  Her  Majesty,  who  had  set 
aside  the  day  for  the  production  of  the  comedy  of 
"Ye  Merry  Wives." 

With  mingled  feelings  of  joy  at  the  near  realiza 
tion  of  his  hopes,  and  of  alarm  at  the  uncertainty  of 
the  fickle  monarch's  reception  of  his  play,  Shakes 
peare  stood  on  the  verge  of  a  brilliant  future  such  as 
has  never  before  or  since  his  time  been  granted  as  the 
spoil  of  conquest  to  a  single  intellect,  looking  back 
upon  the  uneventful  years  of  his  past  life,  and  breath 
ing  a  fervent  prayer  that  this  first  masterpiece  of  his 
youthful  brain  might  find  Elizabeth  in  a  gracious 
mood. 

The  spacious  hall  where  the  Protestant  ruler  held 
her  levees  was  a  worthy  meeting-place  for  the  fa 
mous  personages  who  well-nigh  controlled  the  desti 
nies  of  the  whole  world.  In  this  council-chamber 
many  of  the  crowned  heads  of  Europe  had  been  com 
pelled  to  bend  in  deference  to  this  wonderful  woman's 
wishes. 

The  lofty  ceiling  was  carved  and  decorated  with 
innumerable  pleasing  figures ;  the  walls,  which  were 


The  Court  of  the  Virgin  65 

some  two  hundred  feet  in  length,  and  nearly  half  as 
wide,  were  thickly  hung  with  medieval  armor,  an 
cient  weapons  and  heraldic  devices,  and  ranged  on 
either  side  escutcheons  alternated  with  paintings  of 
many  of  the  dead  rulers  of  England,  their  cardinals, 
and  famous  men  of  their  time. 

The  throne,  on  a  broad  dais  at  the  end  of  the  hall, 
was  handsomely  gilded  and  covered  with  a  rare 
cloth,  on  which  was  embroidered  a  large  "E"  and 
the  arms  of  Elizabeth. 

Two  minor  stations  stood  at  either  side,  which 
were  intended  for  occupation  by  visiting  monarchs. 
As  was  the  custom  of  the  time,  only  royal  person 
ages  were  permitted  to  sit  in  the  Queen's  presence  in 
the  throne-chamber,  and  maids  of  honour,  and  cour 
tiers,  young  and  old,  were  often  compelled  to  stand 
for  many  weary  hours  at  the  reception  of  some  vis 
iting  king. 

Back  of  the  throne  were  heavy  draperies  of  arras, 
which  concealed  a  deep  recess,  from  which  a  secret 
entrance  led  to  a  covered  stairway,  and  communica 
ted  with  the  rest  of  the  castle.  Elizabeth  despatched 
frequent  messengers  to  her  confidants  by  means  of 
this  passage,  and  'tis  said  that  her  favourites  often 
concealed  themselves  behind  the  folds  and  watched 
the  movements  of  the  many  changing  courtiers  that 
flitted  round  the  person  of  the  Queen. 

The  end  of  the  hall  opposite  the  throne  was 
screened  from  observation  by  two  curtains  that  were 
drawn  on  silken  cords  across  the  room  and  met  in 
the  center,  concealing  from  view  the  raised  platform 
which  was  but  newly  completed,  and  on  which  the 
players  were  to  appear. 


66  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  crowd  was  all  impatience  for  the  entrance  of 
the  Queen,  and  their  curious  eyes  eagerly  sought 
the  region  of  the  stage  as  if  to  penetrate  its  hidden 
mysteries.  As  they  murmured  fretfully  at  the  long 
delay  a  corner  of  the  curtain  was  slowly  raised,  and  a 
misshapen  head  appeared  at  the  opening,  while  a 
grotesque  visage  grimaced  at  the  anxious  throng. 

"  Tis  Pulsifer  Kyd,  the  fool,"  whispered  Essex 
to  his  companions.  "When  Philip  II  announced  his 
intended  visit  Elizabeth  decided  she  must  have  a  Cap 
and  Bells,  so  to  Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  her  Lord  Chan 
cellor,  fell  the  duty  of  selecting  him.  He  dressed 
this  fellow  in  motley,  and  he  does  indeed  somewhat 
dissipate  the  rigours  of  a  royal  session,  though  for 
the  life  of  me,  I  cannot  make  out  whether  he  is  a 
crack-brained  idiot  or  a  clever  rascal.  Certain  it  is 
that  out  of  his  silly  mouthings  many  a  well-aimed 
satire  or  stroke  of  flashing  wit  does  frequently  fall 
to  make  their  targets  squirm." 

"Elizabeth  heeds  him  little,  save  to  laugh,"  return 
ed  one,  "and  more  than  once  have  I  seen  his  eyes 
light  up  with  a  gleam  of  intelligence  that  makes  me 
fear  he  is  not  all  he  seems." 

The  head  was  withdrawn  and  in  its  stead  a  long 
limb  appeared,  immediately  followed  by  the  body  of 
the  jester,  who  backed  out  through  the  curtains  and 
swiftly  thrust  them  together  again.  He  turned  and 
capered  up  the  floor,  piping  in  shrill  tones : 

"Queen,  Queen,  where's  the  Queen? 
I  have  seen  what  she's  not  seen; 
I  have  peered  behind  the  scene, 
Which  places  me  before  the  Queen." 


The  Court  of  the  Virgin  67 

He  threw  himself  on  his  stomach  on  the  step  that 
led  to  the  throne,  and  looked  at  his  auditors,  as  he 
continued  to  gibber  and  squeak  in  indistinguishable 
tones. 

He  was  a  long  and  lanky  varlet,  and  the  attenua 
tion  of  his  limbs  was  accentuated  by  their  green  and 
yellow  hose.  His  large  head,  which  was  entirely 
bald  save  for  a  scanty  fringe  of  faded  hair  at  the 
base  of  his  skull,  was  surmounted  by  a  pair  of  enor 
mous  and  protruding  ears,  which,  by  some  strange 
freak  of  nature,  he  was  enabled  to  move  back  and 
forth  at  will.  His  little  eyes  were  sunken  deep 
under  heavy  brows,  and  his  enormous  nose  was  a  red 
and  shining  beacon  in  the  center  of  an  otherwise 
colorless  face. 

He  had  scarcely  thrown  himself  upon  the  step, 
when  two  pages  appeared  and  drew  aside  the  hang 
ings  at  the  entrance  to  the  hall,  while  a  herald  an 
nounced  : 

"Her  Gracious  Majesty  and  Sovereign,  Elizabeth 
I,  Queen  of  England." 

A  hush  fell  upon  the  waiting  courtiers  as  the  royal 
procession  entered. 

First  appeared  a  handsome  gentleman,  tall  and  of 
excessive  dignity,  who  bore  a  gilded  staff,  and  who, 
with  most  impressive  stride,  looking  neither  to  right 
nor  to  left,  directed  his  steps  toward  the  royal  dais. 

"  Tis  Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  Lord  Chancellor  of  the 
realm/'  said  Devereux  in  lowered  tone. 

Next  came  four  pages,  bearing  between  them  a 
large  cushion,  on  which  lightly  rested  a  jeweled 
crown.  Immediately  after  them  walked  the  might 
iest  Queen  the  world  has  ever  known. 


68  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

As  Elizabeth  proceeded  slowly  up  the  center  of  the 
room,  nodding-  and  smiling  graciously  to  the  nobles 
on  either  side,  Will  Shakespeare  with  eager  eyes 
took  in  every  detail  of  her  magnificent  person. 

Of  more  than  average  height,  she  trod  the  floor 
with  infinite  grace.  Her  oval  face,  with  its  high 
forehead  and  tapering  chin,  he  could  see,  all  too 
plainly,  was  heavily  enameled  and  painted  to  conceal 
the  wrinkling  ravages  of  time.  Her  dark  red  hair 
was  dressed  in  a  thick  roll  away  from  her  brow,  and 
was  worn  high  on  her  head  and  studded  with  many 
jewels.  Her  mouth  was  small,  and  the  lips  were 
heavily  rouged.  Her  nose  was  aquiline,  and  almost 
hooked,  while  her  beady  black  eyes  danced  restlessly 
in  her  head,  and  seemed  to  pierce  through  and 
through  the  person  upon  whom  she  gazed.  In  her 
small  ears  she  wore  two  heavy  pearl  pendants,  and 
her  especial  pride,  her  tiny  hands,  with  their  tapering 
fingers,  were  frequently  raised  to  toy  with  necklace 
or  jewel,  that  the  beholder  might  be  impressed  with 
their  beauty. 

She  wore  an  enormous  ruff  of  exquisite  lace  that 
entirely  concealed  her  neck  from  view.  A  sleeveless 
bodice  of  black  velvet,  thickly  studded  with  dia 
monds,  covered  the  bosom  of  her  white  gown,  with 
its  profusion  of  richly  embroidered  flowers,  and  her 
train,  which  trailed  for  several  yards  beneath  her 
great  cloak  of  sable  and  ermine,  was  borne  at  its  cen 
ter  by  a  marchioness  of  the  realm,  and  on  either  side 
by  three  of  her  ladies-in-waiting.  Around  her  neck, 
and  under  her  ruff,  there  hung  a  many-stranded  rope 
of  priceless  pearls. 


The  Court  of  the  Virgin  69 

Her  fading  beauty  was  most  sadly  marred  by  her 
blackened  teeth,  which  displayed  themselves  in  all 
their  ugliness  when  her  lips  parted  in  a  smile. 
Strange  to  say,  this  defect  never  once  concerned  her, 
though  on  all  other  points  of  beauty  she  was  ex 
tremely  sensitive,  to  the  minutest  detail. 

At  the  rear  of  the  Queen's  train-bearers  there 
walked  in  solitary  state  a  strange  figure  of  a  man. 
Tall  and  spare,  with  massive  head  hung  low  upon  his 
breast,  his  large  body  clothed  in  black,  with  cloak 
and  doublet  of  the  same;  his  thin  legs,  with  their 
enormous  bulging  knee-joints,  dressed  in  lemon- 
colored  fleshings ;  his  sole  decoration  being  an  enor 
mous  diamond  star  that  was  fastened  upon  his 
bosom.  His  hair  was  black.  His  parchment-colored 
face  and  round  and  blinking  eyes,  with  his  large 
nose,  thick  under-lip,  and  scraggly  chin  beard  gave 
to  him  an  appearance  not  unlike  the  recognized  image 
of  His  Satanic  Majesty,  as  he  stalked  toward  the 
throne. 

He  was  the  Queen's  royal  brother-in-law,  Philip 
II  of  Spain. 

Behind  him  strutted  a  fat  and  pompous  being  in 
ecclesiastical  garb,  and  to  Shakespeare's  whispered 
query  Essex  made  answer : 

"Tis  the  Lord  Bishop  Kitchen  of  Llandaff, 
Will ;  the  conformist  minister.  He  is  in  high  favour 
with  Elizabeth  and  would  conform  to  anything  to 
keep  his  stomach  filled.  He  has  an  eye  for  the 
women,  and  does  now  most  assiduously  advocate  the 
marriage  of  the  clergy ;  but,  though  the  Queen  listens 
to  him  in  other  matters,  she  will  have  none  of  this, 


?0  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

and  flies  into  a  rage  whenever  he  broaches  the  sub 
ject." 

Next  came  Robert  Dudley,  Earl  of  Leicester,  with 
two  Spanish  nobles,  the  Duke  of  Alva,  and  Philip's 
minister,  Don  Ruy  Gomez  de  Silva,  and  close  upon 
their  heels  walked  a  group  of  famous  men,  Sir  "Wal 
ter  Raleigh,  beloved  by  his  company  of  the  guards, 
talking  earnestly  with  Sir  Amias  Paulet,  Keeper  of 
the  Tower;  and  arm  in  arm  at  their  left  two  of  the 
greatest  navigators  that  ever  sought  the  seas,  the 
handsome  Sir  Francis  Drake,  just  returned  from  the 
Queen's  colony  of  Virginia,  and  the  Spanish  admiral, 
Alexander  Farnese,  Duke  of  Parma.  A  long  train 
of  pages,  attendants,  messengers  and  ladies-in-wait 
ing  closed  the  pageant. 

The  Queen  ascended  the  dais  and  seated  herself 
upon  the  throne,  while  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  lifted  the 
crown  which  the  kneeling  pages  held,  and  set  it 
lightly  upon  her  head.  Philip  II  bowed  low  and  took 
his  seat  at  her  right  hand,  looking  gloomily  at  the 
vast  assemblage.  Leicester  stepped  behind  the 
Queen,  and  stood  gracefully  near  the  left  of  the 
throne,  while  the  Spanish  grandees  took  their  sta 
tions  by  their  king.  The  other  members  of  the  royal 
suite  ranged  themselves  according  to  their  rank  on 
either  side  of  the  dais,  and  awaited  Her  Majesty's 
command. 

Elizabeth  turned  her  glance  upon  the  jester,  who 
lay  on  the  step,  his  chin  resting  on  his  hands,  grimac 
ing  and  wiggling  his  huge  ears.  A  slight  smile 
played  upon  the  Queen's  lips  and  she  tapped  him 
lightly  with  her  foot,  saying : 


The  Court  of  the  Virgin  71 

"Master  Kyd,  we  shall  dispense  with  your  drol 
leries  to-day.  I  hope  to  find  better  amusement  on 
yon  curtained  stage.  My  Lord  Hatton,  we  are  over- 
delayed;  the  presentations  may  await  the  play. 
Despatch  a  messenger  at  once  to  the  actors  and  sig 
nify  our  readiness." 

Sir  Thomas  whispered  to  a  page,  who  bowed  and 
disappeared  behind  the  arras,  and  in  a  moment  a 
tinkling  bell  was  heard,  and  the  heavy  curtains  were 
drawn  aside  by  invisible  hands,  disclosing  the  first 
scene  of  the  famous  comedy. 

From  the  opening  speech  of  the  ignorant  country 
justice  until  the  close  of  the  act  the  Queen  and  all 
her  courtiers  listened  with  rapt  attention,  broken 
only  by  peals  of  merry  laughter,  to  the  witty  lines  that 
fell  from  the  lips  of  the  clever  players.  When  the  cur 
tain  was  dropped  for  a  brief  interval  a  noisy  buzz 
spread  through  the  audience,  as  they  discussed  the 
plot  and  expressed  their  delight  at  the  sparkling 
comedy. 

The  Queen  was  the  picture  of  animation;  her 
bright  eyes  flashed,  her  face  was  wreathed  in  smiles ; 
she  bobbed  her  head  to  the  nobles  on  either  side,  and 
made  many  laughing  comments  on  the  show.  She 
leaned  toward  the  King  of  Spain,  speaking  merrily 
to  him,  and  tapping  him  playfully  on  the  knee  with 
her  fan,  and  even  his  saturnine  face  lit  up  in  a  smile 
of  response  as  he  caught  the  infection  of  Her 
Majesty's  enjoyment. 

As  the  play  proceeded,  and  the  theme  became 
more  intricate,  he  was  forced  to  unbend,  and  joined 
heartily  in  the  general  laughter  that  rippled  forth  at 
the  comical  predicaments  of  the  love-sick  swains. 


72  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Elizabeth,  with  open  mouth  and  gleaming  eyes, 
listened  with  absorbing  interest  to  the  clumsy  at 
tempts  of  the  fat  Falstaff  at  intrigue  with  the  faith 
ful  matrons.  When  he  fell  into  their  trap,  and  was 
hidden  in  the  clothes-basket  neath  the  smothering 
heap  of  soiled  linen,  and  carried  away  to  be  dumped 
in  the  muddy  waters  of  the  Thames,  her  feelings 
overcame  her,  and  casting  all  dignity  aside,  she  lay 
back  in  her  throne  fairly  screaming  with  laughter, 
while  the  tears  streamed  down  her  painted  cheeks. 
So  boisterous  was  her  glee  that  the  action  of  the  play 
was  stopped  until  the  monarch  had  somewhat  re 
gained  her  control. 

The  mistakes  of  Dr.  Caius  and  Slender  in  carry 
ing  off  and  marrying  the  masked  boys  tickled  her 
immensely,  and  when  the  final  curtain  fell  on  the 
happy  termination  of  Fenton's  wooing  of  Mistress 
Anne  Page,  she  led  in  the  storm  of  hand-clapping 
and  applause  that  was  continued  until  the  entire  com 
pany  appeared  and  bowed  their  acknowledgment  of 
the  praise. 

When  they  had  at  last  retired  she  sat  for  some 
time,  frequently  bursting  into  laughter  at  memory 
of  the  droll  caperings  of  the  elephantine  Falstaff, 
and  recounting  to  her  suite  the  scenes  that  most 
struck  her  fancy. 

Shakespeare  stood  with  his  two  friends,  who  joy 
ously  wrung  his  hand,  and  assured  him  that  his  for 
tune  was  made.  His  breast  swelled  with  pride,  but 
his  heart  was  full,  and  he  made  no  answer  to  their 
happy  protestations. 

During  the  play  his  eyes  had  sought  constantly 
the  beautiful  face  of  Mistress  Anne  Hathaway,  the 


The  Court  of  the  Virgin  73 

Queen's  maid  of  honour.  As  the  various  emotions 
excited  by  the  comedy  played  upon  her  handsome 
features  his  hands  clenched,  his  breath  came  in  short 
gasps,  and  he  knew  in  his  own  soul,  as  he  had  never 
realized  before,  that  his  play  had  been  written  for 
this  one  being  alone  of  all  on  earth.  When  she 
rapturously  joined  in  the  applause  his  soul  was  satis 
fied  and  he  cared  not  whether  Queen  or  King  or  man 
or  maid  delighted  in  his  production  so  long  as  she 
was  pleased. 

She  had  never  once  glanced  in  his  direction,  and 
he  felt  that  her  memory  recalled  him  not;  that  she 
would  view  him  simply  as  a  clever  contriver  of 
humorous  situations,  and  that  his  cherished  vision 
of  the  episode  of  his  sentence  by  the  Queen  was  but 
a  blank  in  her  mind. 

Presently  the  Queen  raised  her  voice. 

"Sir  Thomas  Hatton,"  said  she  "bring  me  this 
Master  Shakespeare  that  I  may  publicly  thank  him 
for  the  pleasure  he  has  given  his  grateful  sovereign." 

The  tactful  Essex  quickly  grasped  Shakespeare's 
arm,  and  stepping  forth  from  the  throng  of  cour 
tiers,  he  guided  the  modest  youth  to  the  front  of  the 
throne,  and  dropping  to  his  knee  before  the  Queen, 
he  said : 

"Your  Majesty,  this  is  my  friend  whose  praises  I 
so  strongly  sounded  in  your  ears.  His  triumph  to 
day  justifies  your  noble  kindness  in  listening  to  his 
play." 

He  drew  back  and  left  the  abashed  young  man 
kneeling  before  Elizabeth,  a  rosy  blush  suffusing  his 
face  and  his  eyelashes  lowered  in  confusion. 


74  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  Queen  laughed  merrily  at  his  embarrassment 
and  said : 

'Arise,  Master  Shakespeare;  'tis  my  court  that 
should  kneel  at  your  feet  in  acknowledgment  of  the 
wonderful  intellect  that  prepared  our  entertainment 
to-day." 

"Your  Majesty,"  answered  Will,  "to  my  tutor, 
Master  John  Florio,  much  of  the  credit  is  due.  'Twas 
under  his  advice  that  I  composed  the  play." 

"You  are  too  modest,"  laughed  Elizabeth.  "We 
hope  to  witness  more  of  your  productions." 

As  she  ceased,  Leicester,  who  had  been  watching 
the  youth  for  some  moments  with  an  expression  of 
perplexity  upon  his  face,  suddenly  gave  a  start  of 
recognition,  and  leaning  over  the  throne  whispered 
in  the  monarch's  ear : 

"Cast  your  eye  upon  the  young  man's  sleeve, 
your  Majesty." 

The  Queen  glanced  carelessly  in  the  direction  he 
indicated,  and  as  she  noticed  a  tiny  emblem  upon 
Will's  cuff  her  eye  lit  up  with  a  delighted  gleam. 
She  leaned  hastily  forward  and  in  a  low  voice  said : 

"I  see,  friend  Shakespeare,  that  you  are  one  of 
those  who  has  my  life  in  his  keeping.  'Tis  a  double 
service  you  have  rendered  me." 

"Your  Highness,"  he  answered,  "you  spared  my 
life  once,  when  it  was  forfeit  to  the  crown." 

"I  don't  understand  you.  I  never  set  eyes  upon 
you  till  to-day." 

"Does  your  Majesty  remember  a  morning  some 
two  years  since  when  a  young  country  lad  and  his 
faithful  serving-man  were  haled  before  you  for  the 


The  Court  of  the  Virgin  75 

slaying  of  a  deer?  You  did  pronounce  the  death 
sentence  but  'twas  afterwards  rescinded." 

The  Queen  stared  at  him  for  a  moment,  then  as 
the  recollection  of  the  incident  dawned  upon  her  she 
laughed  heartily  and  turned  to  where  her  ladies 
stood  in  a  group  of  loveliness. 

"Anne  Hathaway,"  she  called,  "your  birthday 
gift  has  come  to  court.  Faith,  I  think  I  will  give 
you  a  necklace  after  all,  for  you  have  indeed  done 
me  a  good  turn.  You  saved  Master  Shakespeare's 
life  and  he  has  returned  the  debt  with  interest,  for 
I  am  sure  he  has  prolonged  mine.  I  have  not 
laughed  so  much  in  a  six  months'  space.  E'en  my 
Lord  Bishop  Kitchen's  scowl  at  the  iniquity  of  a 
play  in  the  royal  palace  changed  perforce  into  a  grin 
at  the  antics  of  that  merry  wight  FalstafL" 

The  Lady  Anne  Hathaway  turned  for  a  moment 
at  Her  Majesty's  command.  Her  face  grew  crimson 
as  the  attention  of  the  whole  court  was  attracted  to 
her  by  the  action  of  the  Queen.  She  steadily  sur 
veyed  the  young  author  for  a  moment,  then  elevat 
ing  her  chin,  she  turned  away  with  a  look  of  disdain, 
resuming  her  conversation  with  the  other  ladies, 
while  poor  Will's  heart  sank  within  him. 

The  Queen  laughed  heartily  at  the  maid's  gesture 
of  scorn,  and  said,  "Ah,  the  hearts  of  the  fair  are 
fickle  indeed";  and  she  shot  a  stinging  dart  at 
another  of  the  company  as  she  continued:  "Sir 
Thomas  Hatton's  joy  at  Anne's  tilting  chin  is  ill 
concealed,  but  I  will  at  least  prove  steadfast,  for  as 
you  shall  see,  Elizabeth  is  still  your  friend.  Sir 
Thomas,  you  will  draw  an  order  upon  the  royal  cof 
ferer  in  favour  of  Master  William  Shakespeare  for 


76  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

one  hundred  pounds.  You  will  issue  another  of  like 
amount  to  Master  John  Florio,  to  be  expended  at  his 
school  in  the  furtherance  of  literary  pursuits  during 
the  forthcoming  year.  You  will  also  make  provision 
for  the  attachment  of  William  Shakespeare  to  our 
court,  and  you  will  ask  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  to  detail 
one  of  his  guardsmen  to  attend  upon  him. 

"Nay,  nay,  Master  Shakespeare/'  she  said,  as  he 
began  to  stammer  his  gratitude  for  her  kindness, 
"there  are  too  many  dawdling  idlers  in  our  suite; 
'twill  refresh  us  greatly  to  have  a  man  of  active  brain 
to  set  a  pattern  to  these  sluggards.  Sir  Thomas, 
let  us  proceed  with  the  presentations." 

When  the  levee  had  ended  and  the  Queen  and  her 
ladies-in-waiting  and  nearly  all  of  the  royal  train  had 
taken  their  departure  from  the  throne-room,  the 
crowd  of  nobles  and  courtiers  that  thronged  the  hall 
pressed  forward  to  obtain  a  closer  view  of  the  genius 
who  had  so  suddenly  sprung  to  the  heights  of  Her 
Majesty's  favour.  Ere  they  could  surround  him 
and  his  joyous  friends,  the  Earls  of  Essex  and 
Southampton,  the  tall  figure  of  Leicester,  who  had 
lingered  for  a  moment  at  the  throne,  pushed  apart 
the  curious  dandies  and  made  his  way  to  Shakes 
peare's  side.  He  grasped  him  cordially  by  the  hand, 
saying : 

"My  young  hero  of  the  highway,  I  am  highly 
gratified  at  your  success  and  your  sudden  accession 
at  court.  Rest  assured  you  may  always  count  me 
your  friend." 

"Your  Grace,"  said  Will,  "I  have  received  much 
of  kindness  at  your  hands,  but  there  is  still  another 


The  Court  of  the  Virgin  77 

favour  I  would  ask,  if  you  will  not  consider  me  too 
importunate.'' 

"And  that  is — "  smiled  the  Earl. 

"Your  intercession  with  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  that 
a  certain  Roger  Covert,  of  his  guards,  be  detailed  as 
my  attendant." 


CHAPTER  VI 
MY  LADY'S  GARTER 

One  bright  and  balmy  morning,  a  fortnight  after 
Shakespeare's  advent  at  court,  Philip  II,  King  of 
Spain,  was  taking  the  air  on  a  secluded  terrace  which 
formed  one  of  the  many  private  gardens  that  dotted 
the  confines  of  the  palace  walls.  This  particular  en 
closure  not  only  opened  out  from  his  own  apart 
ments,  but  also  communicated  with  the  portion  of 
the  castle  occupied  by  the  Queen's  personal  suite. 

The  King  paced  solemnly  up  and  down  the  walk, 
his  hands  clasped  behind  him,  his  lips  twitching  ner 
vously,  and  giving  little  heed  to  the  bright  flowers 
or  green  grass  that  robed  the  terrace  in  a  brilliant 
mantle  of  variegated  colors. 

He  occasionally  stamped  his  foot  and  muttered  to 
himself.  At  last  he  stopped  and  spoke  aloud : 

"Was  ever  a  monarch  between  two  such  fires? 
The  Queen  or  Mary  ?  Mary  or  the  Queen  ?  By  my 
faith,  if  the  Virgin  will  not  have  me  I'll  take  the 
other  by  force  or  stratagem.  Mary  Stuart  was  ever 
an  advocate  of  my  faith,  and  with  our  combined 
forces  allied  against  this  Protestant  vixen  we  may 
yet  conquer  the  world.  Hello !  What  have  we 
here?"  he  continued,  as  two  ladies-in-waiting 
stepped  forth  from  an  embrasure  of  the  Queen's 
apartment  and  strolled  to  a  bench  at  the  lower  part 
of  the  terrace,  where  they  seated  themselves. 


My  Lady's  Garter  79 

The  King  stood  in  silent  contemplation  of  them 
for  a  moment,  then  he  cleared  his  throat  loudly,  and, 
as  they  looked  up  quickly  at  the  noise,  he  raised 
his  arm  and  crooked  his  finger  for  them  to  approach. 
The  ladies  arose  and  walked  demurely  to  where  he 
stood,  his  legs  spread  apart,  a  faint  smile  upon  his 
sallow  face.  They  dropped  in  curtsey  before  the 
monarch  and  awaited  his  command. 

"As  I  thought,"  said  he,  "it  is  the  Lady  Anne 
Hathaway.  I  would  have  a  word  with  you  in  pri 
vate,  if  your  companion  will  consent  to  the  inter 
ruption." 

At  this  implied  order,  the  second  lady  bowed  low 
and  turned  away,  walking  swiftly  to  the  castle  and 
entering  the  open  window. 

The  King  gazed  in  silence  at  the  maiden  for  a 
moment  as  she  stood  before  him  with  downcast  eyes. 
Finally  he  spoke: 

"My  maid,  you  wear  a  pretty  face." 

"You  honour  me,  sire,"  she  answered ;  "but  if  this 
is  all  you  have  to  say  to  me,  I  had  best  return  to 
the  Queen." 

"Nay,  nay !"  protested  the  amused  monarch ;  "we 
have  something  to  discuss  which  bears  most  strongly 
on  your  future  welfare.  Did  ever  thought  of  mar 
riage  enter  your  handsome  head  ?" 

"Your  Majesty,  every  woman  has  hopes  of  a 
happy  wedded  state  before  the  ashes  of  age  have 
withered  the  roses  of  youth  on  her  cheeks." 

"You  may  attain  a  noble  rank  in  one  of  the  great 
est  courts  of  Europe,  if  you  will  be  guided  by  my 
counsel." 


80  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"Why,  your  Highness,  what  do  you  mean  ?  You 
speak  strangely." 

"Just  this,  Mistress  Anne;  Don  Ruy  Gomez  de 
Silva,  my  prime  minister,  is  entranced  by  your 
youthful  beauty  and  your  proud  and  noble  bearing, 
and  he  has  importuned  me  to  use  my  influence  with 
the  Queen  that  he  may  carry  you  back  to  Spain  as 
his  bride." 

The  girl  went  pale  at  the  King's  revelation,  and 
for  a  time  her  agitation  kept  her  dumb.  At  last  she 
opened  her  lips. 

"But  I  do  not  love  him,  sire,"  she  said. 

"Pah!  Love,  love,  love!  That  is  all  one  hears 
nowadays  in  this  frivolous  court  of  a  romantic  ruler. 
From  Elizabeth  down  to  the  lowest  maid  in  the  scul 
lery  you  have  all  become  so  imbued  with  this  fancy 
that  you  have  a  heart,  that  considerations  of  rank 
and  fame  enter  no  longer  into  our  undertakings. 
You  can  learn  to  love  this  nobleman  midst  the  de 
lights  and  luxuries  of  his  sumptuous  villa  in  Spain." 

"Why,  your  Majesty,  he  is  twice  my  age." 

"  Tis  his  misfortune  that  he  may  not  add  the 
lost  years  to  a  life  of  happiness  with  thee." 

"And  he  is  but  recently  widowed." 

"Is  it  a  crime  that  a  man  desires  to  take  unto  him 
self  another  wife?  If  the  roses  in  our  gardens  die 
do  we  not  replace  them  with  fresh  and  more  beauti 
ful  ones  ?  De  Silva  is  a  high  grandee  in  the  greatest 
Catholic  realm  on  the  face  of  the  globe.  Your  future 
happiness,  as  well  as  your  hopes  of  salvation,  will  be 
both  assured  if  you  do  but  embrace  his  offer  and 
our  faith." 


My  Lady's  Garter  81 

"Your  Majesty,  I  am  true  to  the  teachings  of  my 
Queen.  She  has  ruled  this  country  with  a  master- 
hand  since  long  before  my  birth,  and  she  has  ever 
been  steadfast  in  her  faith.  Would  you  have  me, 
a  lowly  subject  of  this  generous  monarch,  and  one 
attached  to  her  royal  person  by  the  sacred  ties  of  love 
and  duty,  so  desecrate  my  honour  as  to  desert  my 
mistress's  faith?" 

"Tut,  tut,  child,  we  will  waive  the  religion.  No 
doubt  you  will  be  of  more  liberal  mind  when  once 
you  hold  the  scepter  of  power  in  Don  Gomez's 
home." 

"Your  Majesty,"  said  the  brave  maiden,  "  'tis 
a  vision  that  will  never  be  fulfilled.  I  do  not  love 
De  Silva,  and  I  will  not  wed  him.  I  wonder  if  the 
day  will  ever  come  when  monarchs  will  understand 
that  a  maiden's  nay  is  mightier  than  a  king's  com 
mand." 

The  King  recoiled  a  pace,  and  his  brow  grew 
black  at  the  damsel's  boldness.  He  looked  at  her 
with  threatening  frown,  and  his  harsh  voice  that  at 
last  broke  the  stillness  purported  naught  of  good  for 
Mistress  Anne. 

"Then,  my  impudent  hussy,"  he  said,  "we  will 
see  what  effect  the  Queen's  order  will  have  upon 
you.  I  will  seek  audience  with  my  royal  sister-in- 
law  and  make  my  request  in  person.  I  hardly  think 
she  will  deny  the  wishes  of  so  powerful  a  monarch. 
Don  Gomez  has  served  me  faithfully  for  many  years, 
and  I  fain  would  provide  him  with  the  bauble  he 
does  now  demand." 

Anne  Hathaway  straightened  her  shoulders,  and 
her  wonderful  eyes  flashed  in  open  defiance  of  the 
royal  plotter. 


82  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"King  Philip/'  said  she,  "ere  you  mingle  in  the 
affairs  of  others  you  had  best  look  to  your  own 
case.  Ah,  do  you  think  we  English  maidens  are  so 
blind  that  we  do  not  understand  this  call  of  yours 
upon  our  Queen  ?  You  seek  her  hand  in  royal  mar 
riage.  You  would  mightily  strengthen  your  throne 
and  spread  your  faith  throughout  the  entire  world 
by  this  alliance.  But  methinks  you  will  find  that 
Elizabeth  has  a  mind  of  her  own  ere  you  have  ended 
your  courtship." 

"Take  care,  maid!"  snapped  the  King;  "you  will 
rue  your  boldness." 

"I  am  willing  to  rest  my  case,  and  your  own,  too, 
King  Philip,  with  the  Queen.  If  I  have  been  rude 
and  have  forgotten  the  difference  in  our  stations, 
or  have  failed  to  accord  you  the  respect  which  is 
your  due,  I  plead  my  outraged  feelings  as  my  excuse. 
Let  your  prime  minister  find  some  maiden  of  more 
yielding  disposition.  There  are  plenty  such  at  court 
who  would  gladly  grasp  at  the  chance  of  marrying 
your  antiquated  grandee.  With  your  permission,  I 
will  seek  the  castle."  She  curtseyed  low,  then  faced 
about  and  ran  swiftly  from  his  detested  presence. 

Instead  of  entering  the  window  she  sped  across 
the  terrace  and  round  the  corner  of  the  wall  that 
bordered  upon  a  larger  court,  while  the  King  stood 
in  baffled  rage,  gnawing  his  nails  and  cursing  furi 
ously  under  his  breath. 

As  she  hurried  through  the  second  court  and 
turned  to  enter  a  little  door  in  the  wall  that  held 
communication  with  a  hall  leading  to  the  Queen's 
apartment,  the  slouching  figure  of  a  man  entered 
the  enclosure  on  his  way  to  King  Philip  with  a  mes- 


My  Lady's  Garter  83 

sage  from  his  prime  minister.  He  was  an  evil- 
looking  Spaniard,  by  name  Fernando  Cordes,  and 
accompanied  Gomez  in  the  capacity  of  a  valet. 

As  the  maiden,  with  a  swish  of  her  skirts  and  a 
twinkle  of  flying  feet,  disappeared  within  the  door 
way  his  eyes  caught  the  glitter  of  a  bright  object 
falling  to  the  ground.  He  hurried  forward  to  see 
what  it  might  be  just  as  another  man,  of  military 
figure,  came  into  the  court  behind  him.  He  saw  a 
handsome  jeweled  buckle  which  had  become  unfas 
tened  from  Anne's  garter,  and  which  had  fallen 
unnoticed  in  her  haste  to  escape  the  King.  He 
pounced  upon  it  with  a  greedy  cry,  and  as  he  stooped 
on  the  stone  floor  of  the  court  a  strong  hand  seized 
him  by  the  nape  of  the  neck  and  shook  him  until 
the  teeth  rattled  in  his  head. 

"You  sneaking  Dago,"  said  the  voice  of  Roger 
Covert,  "hand  me  that  pretty  bauble,  and  leave  the 
dirty  work  of  the  court  to  the  foreign  monkeys 
whom  you  serve.  They'll  steal  our  fair  dames  fast 
enough  without  their  villains  cabbaging  their  jewels. 
Gad,  but  you  are  an  ugly  fellow,"  he  said,  as  the 
Spaniard  writhed  in  his  grasp  and  turned  his  yellow 
face  toward  him.  He  twisted  the  buckle  from  his 
hand,  saying:  "I  will  find  an  owner  for  this.  'Tis 
a  lucky  thing  I  happened  along  just  as  I  did,  or  the 
Jew  money-lenders  might  soon  have  had  these  dia 
monds  scattered  to  the  four  corners  of  the  city. 
Know  you  the  damsel  whom  I  glimpsed  flying 
through  yon  door?" 

"  Twas  the  Queen's  lady,  Anne  Hathaway,"  an 
swered  the  Spaniard  in  his  imperfect  English.  "It 
was  but  to  hasten  after  her  that  I  pick  up  the  jewel, 


84  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

when  you  interrupt  my  plan  by  the  clasp  of  your 
hand  upon  my  neck." 

"Bah,  a  likely  story,"  said  Roger,  as  he  released 
his  hold  upon  the  lying  rogue,  and  applying  the  toe 
of  his  jack-boot  to  the  region  of  his  doublet,  he  sent 
him  sprawling  on  the  floor  of  the  court. 

Without  looking  back,  he  proceeded  on  his  way, 
and  entering  the  castle,  hurried  to  the  apartment  set 
aside  for  his  master,  Will  Shakespeare.  When 
Covert  had  disappeared  from  view,  Fernando  rose 
painfully,  rubbing  his  injured  body  and  vowing 
vengeance  with  many  picturesque  oaths. 

As  Covert  burst  into  the  room,  Will  Shakespeare, 
who  sat  writing  at  a  small  table,  looked  up. 

"Well,  Roger,"  he  said,  "you  storm  my  citadel 
with  all  the  vigor  of  an  invading  army.  What 
brings  you  here  in  such  haste  ?" 

Roger  threw  the  clasp  upon  the  table,  saying: 

"Master  Will,  you  should  be  pleased  at  my  return, 
for  I  bring  you  a  token  from  your  lady." 

"You  jest,  Covert.  There  is  not  one  fair  damsel 
in  this  great  court  whose  heart  beats  faster  at  my 
approach." 

"I'll  wager  you  the  owner  of  this  garter  would 
gladly  welcome  you  as  a  suitor,  though  she  did  in 
truth  treat  you  most  scurvily  on  your  first  appear 
ance  at  court.  But  I  know  a  thing  or  two,  Master 
Will.  Anne  Holcombe,  the  laundress,  tells  me  that 
my  Lord  Thomas  Hatton  was  on  the  verge  of  a 
successful  consummation  of  his  suit  for  the  Lady 
Anne  Hathaway's  hand,  but  that  in  the  last  two 
weeks  the  fickle  maid  has  blown  cold  upon  his  ad 
vances,  much  to  the  amusement  of  the  Queen  and 


My  Lady's  Garter  85 

to  the  discomfiture  of  Sir  Thomas,  who  vows  that 
he  will  win  her  by  fair  means  or  foul." 

"What  is  this  to  me,  Roger?"  said  Shakespeare, 
his  heart  giving  a  great  leap  of  hope  at  the  slow 
progress  of  the  chancellor's  wooing.  "I  have  not 
held  speech  with  her  since  I  came  to  court,  though 
she  has  brushed  past  me  at  various  times  with  no 
more  sign  of  recognition  than  if  I  were  the  empty 
air." 

"Ah,  master,  master.  I  fear  me  you  do  not  under 
stand  the  workings  of  a  woman's  heart.  They  are 
coy  creatures,  but  more  exacting  when  they  find 
they  hold  one  in  their  thrall,  than  my  stern  captain, 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh  of  the  guards.  But  if  you  do 
but  turn  upon  them  an  indifferent  front  they  do 
quickly  tumble  off  their  pedestals  and  grovel  piti 
fully  at  your  knees.  You  may  scourge  them,  you 
may  scorn  them,  but  they  love  you  all  the  better  for 
it.  They  love  to  be  loved,  but  being  loved  and 
knowing  it,  you  lose  their  love  unless  you  do  steer 
a  middle  course,  and  though  loving  them  inwardly 
much  love  them  outwardly  little;  then  they  cling  to 
you  like  the  castle's  ivy,  growing  old  with  you  and 
rinding  happiness  in  the  daily  wounds  of  your 
indifference." 

"Why,  Roger,  you  are  a  philosopher.  I  never 
credited  you  as  so  close  a  student  of  the  gentle 
sex." 

"I  have  my  laundress,  master,  and  if  ever  a  wench 
led  a  man  a  merry  race,  I  am  a  great  runner.  But 
I  flatter  myself  I  understand  her  pretty  well." 

"You  are  much  of  a  pessimist,  too,  Roger.  What 
if  the  Queen  could  listen  to  your  discourse?  But 


86  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

this  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  garter.  Here  I  am 
all  on  fire  to  learn  its  history.  How  came  it  in  your 
possession?" 

"I  was  but  now  skirting  the  terraces,  and  taking 
a  short  cut  to  your  presence,  when  I  saw  Mistress 
Hathaway  scurrying  across  the  court  as  though  the 
Devil  were  after  her,  and  in  truth  one  of  his  imps 
was  close  at  her  heels,  though  she  knew  it  not. 
As  she  entered  the  castle  she  lost  her  buckle,  and 
that  yellow  lackey  of  Don  Gomez's,  who  was  skulk 
ing  along  the  wall,  pounced  upon  it  and  was  on  the 
verge  of  making  his  rusty  pouch  a  receiver  of  stolen 
goods.  I  relieved  him  of  his  booty,  however,  and 
elected  myself  his  treasurer.  Oh,  but  he  would 
much  enjoy  twisting  a  knife  between  my  shoulders ! 
I  must  keep  him  at  sword's  length  hereafter." 

"Why  do  you  bring  the  clasp  to  me,  Roger?  You 
would  have  done  well  to  have  returned  it  to  its 
rightful  owner." 

"Master  Will,  if  you  will  hearken  to  the  advice 
of  your  humble  squire,  you  will  hold  it  in  your 
keeping  until  the  maiden  comes  to  you  herself  as  a 
suppliant  for  its  return.  It  may  be  contrived  that 
she  might  learn  its  resting-place  ere  many  days  have 
passed." 

"Roger,  you  do  tempt  me  mightily,"  said  Shakes 
peare,  as  he  toyed  with  the  jewel. 

The  same  afternoon  a  tiny  note  was  thrust  into 
Anne  Hathaway's  hand  as  she  entered  the  throne- 
room  in  the  suite  of  the  Queen,  and  the  cringing 
figure  of  Fernando  Cordes  disappeared  in  the  crowd 
of  courtiers  as  she  crumpled  it  in  her  palm. 


My  Lady's  Garter  87 

When  the  levee  was  over  she  went  to  her  own 
apartment,  broke  the  seal,  and  read  the  missive, 
which  consisted  of  two  lines  written  in  tiny  letters  in 
an  exquisite  Roman  hand :  "Your  garter  was  stolen 
by  one  Roger  Covert,  a  disgraced  member  of  the 
Queen's  Guard." 

She  tore  the  note  into  bits  and  threw  the  frag 
ments  out  of  an  open  window,  then  thought  deeply 
for  several  minutes,  evidently  trying  to  decide  upon 
some  plan  for  the  recovery  of  her  jewel.  Her  eyes 
flashed  indignantly  at  thought  of  the  theft ;  she  had 
supposed  that  it  would  soon  be  returned  to  her,  as 
the  finder  would  well  understand  that  none  but  a 
person  in  high  favour  with  the  Queen  could  wear 
such  a  costly  ornament.  At  last  she  made  up  her 
mind  and  arose  with  the  intention  of  seeking  Walter 
Raleigh  and  denouncing  the  culprit. 

As  she  hurried  along  the  hall  she  ran  suddenly 
almost  into  the  arms  of  Sir  Amias  Paulet,  who  had 
just  left  the  throne-room. 

"Whither  away,  Mistress  Anne,  in  such  haste?" 
asked  the  courtly  gentleman,  as  he  stepped  aside  to 
allow  her  to  pass. 

"Oh !  Sir  Amias,"  she  said,  "I  know  you  can  help 
me.  I  lost  a  diamond  buckle,  and  I  have  just  learned 
that  it  was  stolen  by  Roger  Covert,  a  guardsman  of 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  company.  Will  you  use  your 
influence  with  his  captain  that  the  rogue  may  be 
flogged,  and  my  garter  returned?" 

"Roger  Covert,  did  you  say?  He  was,  some  two 
years  back,  stripped  of  his  uniform,  and  left  his 
company  in  disgrace.  But  he  was  restored  at  the 
command  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  whom  none  dare 


88  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

refuse.  This  last  offense  will  prove  his  undoing,  for 
even  Robert  Dudley  cannot  dispute  the  evidence  of 
his  guilt." 

"Then  you  will  assist  me,  Sir  Amias?" 

"With  all  my  heart.  I  will  go  to  Raleigh  at  once, 
and  have  the  rascal  turned  out  for  good  and  all." 

"Be  sure  you  bring  back  my  buckle,  Sir  Amias." 

"That  I  will,  my  Lady,  and  I  must  also  find  a 
new  attendant  for  William  Shakespeare;  this  man 
was  detailed  at  his  own  request." 

"Master  Shakespeare,  did  you  say,  Sir  Amias?" 
faltered  the  maiden. 

"Yes.  He  has  served  him  since  his  advent  at 
court.  But  I  must  hasten  ere  Sir  Walter  leaves  the 
palace." 

"Hold,  Sir  Amias.  There  may  have  been  some 
slight  mistake  on  the  part  of  my  informant.  I  would 
not  condemn  the  fellow  unjustly.  Could  you  not 
contrive  to  have  him  sent  to  me,  and  keep  the  secret 
until  you  hear  further  about  this  from  my  lips?" 

"Certainly,  my  Lady,  but  it  were  wiser  to  have 
him  seized." 

"You  will  oblige  me  greatly,  Sir  Amias." 

"I  am  at  your  command,  Lady  Anne." 

She  returned  to  her  rooms,  and  in  a  short  time  she 
heard  the  sound  of  footsteps  in  the  hall,  and  there 
was  a  sharp  tap  at  her  door.  In  response  to  her 
command  Roger  Covert  entered  and  stood  with 
bared  head  just  inside  the  threshold. 

"Your  ladyship  sent  for  me?"  he  said. 

"You  are  Roger  Covert  ?"  she  questioned. 

He  bowed  in  assent  and  she  looked  at  him  seri 
ously  for  a  moment  ere  she  continued : 


My  Lady's  Garter  89 

"This  morning  I  lost  a  jeweled  garter,  a  most 
valuable  keepsake,  and  one  that  I  prize  the  more 
highly  because  it  was  given  to  me  by  the  Queen. 
I  was  willing  to  reward  the  lucky  finder  hand 
somely  for  the  return  of  my  clasp,  and  I  did  not 
think  there  was  one  in  the  castle  low  enough  to 
steal." 

"What  do  you  infer,  madame  ?" 

"Covert,  you  have  my  garter.  I  will  give  much 
for  its  return.  Let  me  have  it  and  I  will  empty  my 
purse  for  your  kindness.  I  would  never  hear  the 
last  of  it,  if  Her  Majesty  discovered  that  it  had 
passed  out  of  my  keeping.  Come,  come,  man,  hand 
it  over,  and  none  need  be  the  wiser." 

"My  Lady,  your  jewel  is  not  in  my  possession, 
though  some  enemy  of  mine  has  evidently  most 
foully  accused  me  of  its  theft.  I  could  tell  you, 
though  I  will  not,  the  name  of  the  guilty  varlet. 
I  caught  him  in  the  act  of  appropriating  it  this  very 
morning,  and  took  it  away  from  him. 

"As  I  am  but  a  poor  soldier  of  the  guard,  withal 
an  honest  one,  I  had  no  use  for  such  a  handsome 
bauble,  and  turned  it  over  to  my  master,  William 
Shakespeare,  thinking  that  he  could  best  advise  as  to, 
its  disposition.  Methinks  I  heard  him  say  that  he 
would  keep  the  little  clasp  until  the  owner  came  to 
ask  it  of  him. 

"If  any  one  is  the  thief,  my  Lady,  it  is  Master 
Shakespeare,  for  I  gave  it  up  willingly,  while  he 
does  most  admiringly  survey  its  beauties,  turning  it 
over  and  over  in  his  hand,  and  seeming  loath  to  part 
with  it  for  a  single  instant.  I  have  no  doubt,  though, 
that  if  you  will  call  upon  him  and  assure  him  of  your 


90  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

ownership,  he  will  gladly  return  to  you  your 
treasure." 

Anne  Hathaway's  face  was  suffused  with  a  deep 
blush  as  she  answered  Covert  in  attempted  non 
chalance  : 

"O,  we  will  not  bother  our  heads  further  about 
the  trinket.  We  have  already  wasted  much  time  in 
discussing  it.  You  may  go,  Roger  Covert.  I  am 
sorry  to  have  caused  you  the  inconvenience  of  a  visit 
to  my  apartment.  I  assure  you  the  loss  is  a  mere 
trifle." 

Covert  bowed  and  turned  to  leave  the  room.  Anne 
looked  up  as  he  paused  at  the  threshold. 

"What  will  the  Queen  say,  my  Lady  ?"  he  queried, 
and  closed  the  door  after  him. 


CHAPTER  VII 
THE  TILT  AT  RHYME 

The  Queen  leaned  back  in  her  low  wicker  chair, 
giving  herself  up  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  beautiful 
afternoon  and  listening  idly  to  the  conversation  of 
her  ladies-in-waiting. 

"It  is  good  indeed,  my  Lord  Bishop,  to  find  solace 
and  seclusion  from  the  pomp  of  the  court  in  the 
beauties  of  my  garden,"  she  said,  languidly  turning 
her  head  toward  her  spiritual  adviser,  who  stood, 
resting  his  elbow  on  one  hand  and  his  chin  on  the 
other,  and  who  had  been  regarding  her  meditatively 
until  she  addressed  him. 

"  'Tis  here  that  I  am  free,  Kitchen.  I  can  stretch 
my  legs,  I  can  yawn,  I  can  sigh  without  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  world  being  upon  me.  In  there  I  am  a 
slave  to  my  subjects.  I  must  ever  appear  the  royal 
monarch.  If  I  were  to  unbend  for  a  moment  in  their 
presence,  or  to  display  a  touch  of  human  nature,  I 
would  lose  my  hold  upon  them. 

"Ah,  therein  lies  the  secret  of  my  successful  reign. 
I  keep  them  in  their  places ;  they  look  upon  me  with 
awe  as  some  superior  being,  a  divinity  gifted  with 
unearthly  power ;  and  they  dearly  love  to  be  belittled 
and  befooled. 

"Without  the  blessed  relaxation  of  my  daily  hour 
in  the  garden  I  fear  me  my  spirit  would  bend  under 


92  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

the  strain;  but  my  ladies  sing  for  me  here,  Kyd  be 
guiles  me  with  his  nonsense,  and  you  cheer  me  at 
times  with  your  words  of  comfort  and  your  views  of 
the  future  state." 

"Your  Majesty,"  answered  the  churchman,  "in 
our  hours  of  ease  we  must  not  neglect  our  spiritual 
welfare.  The  cares  of  state  do  greatly  turn  your 
royal  mind  to  worldly  affairs,  and  your  soul's  salva 
tion  demands  an  interval  of  religious  communion." 

"I  am  weary,  my  Lord  Bishop,  weary  of  the 
mockery  of  my  cringing  courtiers,  of  the  suit  of  for 
eign  monarchs  for  my  hand,  of  the  daily  intrigues 
and  clever  attempts  to  gain  the  royal  favour.  Let  us 
soothe  our  senses  in  a  song.  Anne,  come  hither  with 
your  lute.  We  will  see  if  your  sweet  voice  can  rouse 
the  spirit  of  your  Queen." 

At  her  Majesty's  command  Anne  approached  her 
mistress,  and  her  companions  followed,  disposing 
themselves  in  graceful  attitudes  upon  the  grass  at 
their  sovereign's  feet.  The  Bishop  still  stood,  and 
Pulsifer  Kyd,  the  jester,  who  had  been  curled  up  in 
the  sun  behind  Elizabeth's  chair,  unwound  his  lanky 
limbs  and  fetched  a  footstool,  which  he  handed  to 
the  maid  of  honour. 

"Listen,  Kitchen,"  whispered  the  Queen;  "the 
girl  does  sometimes  improvise  most  beautiful  tunes." 

Anne  Hathaway  bent  over  her  lute  for  a  moment, 
gently  stroking  the  strings  and  humming  in  a  low 
tone ;  then  she  raised  her  head  and  her  clear  voice  fell 
musically  upon  the  listeners'  ears,  the  tinkling  notes 
of  the  lute  furnishing  sweet  accompaniment.  At  the 
opening  line  of  her  song  the  Queen  opened  wide  her 
eyes  in  astonishment,  and  ere  her  daring  hand- 


The  Tilt  at  Rhyme  93 

maiden  had  ceased,  her  drooping  spirit  had  regained 
its  fire. 

Thus  ran  the  burden  of  the  tune : 


"A  gallant  ship  came  sailing 
Across  the  Spanish  Main, 
It  bore  a  prince  of  royal  blood 
And  his  attendant  train. 
At  the  court  of  our  fair  Lady 
The  monarch  now  repines, 
His  kingly  heart  to  thoughts  of  love 
Most  tenderly  inclines. 

"Your  Highness,  we  implore  thee 
To  say  this  suppliant  'Nay'; 
Your  subjects  all  adore  thee, 
And  love  the  gentle  sway 
Of  Queenly  hand  that  guides  the  helm 
Of  your  proud  ship  of  state ; — 
Dismiss  the  King;  our  Virgin  Queen 
Deserves  a  better  fate. 

"His  minister  takes  pattern 
Of  Philip's  crafty  plan, 
And  woos  your  maid,  who  loves  him  not, 
For  she  prefers  a  man 
With  England's  blood  in  his  blue  veins 
And  courage  in  his  breast ; 
She  prays  that  you  will  lend  her  aid, 
For  she  is  sore  distressed. 

"Let  your  proud  faith  withstand  him ; — 
This  papal  advocate 

Would  rule  your  Church,  and  scourge  the  land 
With  ruthless  strife  and  hate. 
The  single  state  is  better  far 
Than  union  with  proud  Spain; 
Send  ship  and  crew,  and  monarch  too, 
Back  to  the  Spanish  Main." 

Elizabeth's  face  was  a  study  when  the  girl  finished 
her  song.    The  churchman  looked  gravely  on,  and 


94  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

her  hand-maidens  sat  in  awe-struck  silence,  narrowly 
watching  for  the  example  of  their  mistress  before 
they  passed  opinion  on  the  tune.  For  a  moment  the 
Queen  seemed  on  the  point  of  bursting  forth  in  a 
storm  of  rage,  and  even  Anne  dropped  her  eyes  and 
waited  with  beating  heart  the  censure  of  her  sover 
eign. 

But  the  monarch's  good  nature  asserted  itself  and 
she  gave  vent  to  her  feelings  in  a  peal  of  laughter, 
which  was  echoed  by  her  ladies. 

"How  now,  Kitchen  ?  Did  I  not  tell  thee  that  the 
lass  had  a  ready  wit?  In  sooth  she  brings  me  to  my 
senses.  Here  I  have  been  dallying  for  a  month  with 
my  royal  brother-in-law,  knowing  full  well  the  pur 
port  of  his  visit,  but  playing  with  him  as  a  cat  with 
a  mouse,  in  my  serenity  believing  that  my  court  was 
blind.  Now  out  of  the  mouth  of  my  hand-maiden 
I  am  punished  for  my  folly.  Anne,  my  girl,  you 
might  not  have  been  so  keen  to  call  your  mistress  to 
account  were  it  not  for  the  suit  of  King  Philip's 
minister.  He  would  be  a  great  match  for  you." 

"No,  no,  your  Highness,  I  cannot  bear  the  thought 
of  this  oily  foreigner.  If  wedded  I  must  be,  let  me 
take  a  man  of  my  own  speech  and  manner." 

The  Queen  chuckled. 

"Kitchen,  if  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  could  hear  my 
Lady's  avowal  he  would  in  sooth  be  pleased.  'Tis 
a  noble  plea  for  the  English  stock,  Anne.  What  say 
you,  my  Lord  Bishop  ?" 

"I  would  say  that  the  Earl  of  Leicester  would  also 
applaud  her  verse,"  blandly  answered  the  minister. 

Elizabeth's  eyes  flashed  ominously  at  the  implica 
tion,  but  she  pretended  not  to  heed  it. 


The  Tilt  at  Rhyme  95 

"Well,  well,  Anne,"  she  said,  "you  have  indeed  di 
verted  us.  Methinks  that  there  will  be  no  marriage 
in  my  court  for  some  time  to  come.  Let  Philip  seek 
the  Netherlands.  The  Dutch  princess  might  desire 
to  take  an  ocean  trip.  I  doubt  not  he  could  bend  her 
to  his  will." 

"I  am  fain  to  believe  he  has  an  eye  upon  the  Queen 
of  Scots,"  slyly  remarked  the  Bishop,  "in  case  he 
fails  to  win  your  hand." 

"Mary  Stuart  is  confined  in  the  Tower,  where  she 
is  like  to  remain,"  snapped  Elizabeth.  "The  Duke 
of  Norfolk  is  most  ardently  striving  to  compass  her 
release.  The  fickle  shrew  already  plans  to  make  him 
the  fourth  on  her  list  of  husbands.  But  we  may 
spare  him  Darnley's  fate  by  keeping  her  penned  up 
until  his  love-flame  cools.  Think  you  that  marriage 
is  advisable  at  this  late  day?" 

"Your  Highness,"  Kitchen  humbly  responded,  "I 
have  often  broached  my  ideas  on  the  subject,  but  you 
will  never  hear  me  out.  I  believe  it  to  be  the  one  per 
fect  state  and  the  condition  decreed  by  God  to  com 
plete  our  obligations  on  this  earth." 

"Then  you  would  class  me  as  a  sinner  because  I 
choose  to  rule  my  kingdom,  independent  of  the 
sterner  sex.  Do  you  desire  to  marry  at  your  age,  my 
Lord?" 

"You  know  that  I  have  ever  advocated  the  mar 
riage  of  the  clergy." 

"And  you  would  erase  the  distinction  that  has 
always  been  a  power  in  itself,  the  celibacy  of  the 
princes  of  the  church.  Why,  with  your  example, 
my  subjects  would  quickly  lose  all  respect  of  relig 
ious  tenets.  You  would  mingle  so  closely  with  them, 


96  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

and  liken  yourselves  so  much  to  their  persons  and 
pursuits,  that  they  would  fall  away  from  their  belief, 
and  seeing  and  hearing  you  daily  in  their  midst, 
would  refuse  to  listen  to  your  vapid  titterings  on  the 
Lord's  selected  day." 

"Matrimony  is  religion,  your  Highness,  the 
purest  creed  of  them  all.  What  greater  incentive 
could  there  be  for  a  churchman  to  strive  to  spread 
his  doctrines  through  the  world  than  the  companion 
ship  of  a  faithful  wife,  abiding  at  his  elbow  and 
urging  him  on,  happy  in  his  success,  hopeful  when 
he  is  downcast,  sharing  his  daily  toil  and  life  of  de 
privation,  with  little  of  joy  in  her  life,  her  only  hap 
piness  lying  in  the  knowledg-e  that  she  is  doing  right 
in  the  eyes  of  the  world  and  of  her  God  ?" 

The  Queen  was  staggered  for  an  instant,  then  with 
a  gesture  of  impatience  she  silenced  her  minister. 

"Pah,  Kitchen,"  said  she,  "you  do  indeed  prate 
well,  if  you  were  but  sincere ;  but  'tis  a  notorious  fact 
that  you  do  keep  an  establishment  in  London,  an 
other  outside  of  Windsor,  and  the  Lord  knows  how 
many  damsels  are  languishing  in  Llandaff  for  want 
of  your  company.  You  cannot  marry  them  all  so  I 
refuse  to  let  you  marry  at  all.  You  had  best  drop 
the  subject,  my  Lord  Bishop,  for  I  am  sure  we  can 
never  hitch  on't." 

The  Bishop  raised  his  hands  deprecatingly  at  the 
charge,  and  the  Queen  laughed  merrily  at  his  dis 
comfiture  before  her  ladies. 

The  jester  rolled  on  the  ground  in  a  paroxysm  of 
glee,  grimacing  drolly  at  Elizabeth,  while  he  wrig 
gled  his  ears  and  emitted  sharp  cackles  of  joy  which 
added  greatly  to  her  mirth. 


The  Tilt  at  Rhyme  97 

Two  gentlemen  in  court  dress  crossed  a  distant 
corner  of  the  terrace  as  Kitchen's  tormentors  were 
having  their  fling  at  him.  Hearing  the  noisy  laugh 
ter  they  paused  for  an  instant  and  faced  about.  Their 
action  caught  the  sharp  eye  of  Elizabeth,  and  she 
leaned  over  and  spoke  hastily  to  the  jester: 

"Kyd,"  she  said,  "if  my  eyes  deceive  me  not,  the 
Earl  of  Southampton  and  Master  Shakespeare  do 
walk  in  the  garden.  Run  quickly  and  summon  them. 
Say  that  the  Queen  would  have  speech  with  them." 

The  fool  cut  a  caper  and  bounded  off,  while  her 
Highness  leaned  back  in  her  chair.  "A  notion 
strikes  me,"  said  she.  "If  my  plan  does  not  fail  we 
may  derive  some  further  entertainment  from  our 
afternoon  in  the  garden." 

The  jester  soon  returned  with  the  strollers,  who 
doffed  their  caps  and  bent  their  knees  before  the 
Queen.  Elizabeth  bade  them  arise,  and  looked  at 
Shakespeare  quizzically. 

"We  are  at  your  Majesty's  service,"  said  he. 
1  'Tis  seldom  that  our  afternoon's  season  of  maid 
enly  discourse  is  honored  by  a  visit  of  the  sterner 
sex,"  said  the  Queen.  "Of  course  we  have  Kitchen 
here,  but  he  counts  for  naught.  So  wrapped  up  is 
he  in  religious  thoughts  that  he  is  but  a  dull  bird,  in 
somber  plumage,  who  sings  not,  and  who  does  dis 
play  a  most  sour  and  wrinkled  visage  whenever  we 
indulge  in  laughter  or  in  jesting  speech. 

"Master  Shakespeare,  you  have  obtained  a  strong 
foothold  at  my  court  through  the  imaginings  of  your 
fertile  brain.  I  have  read  much  of  your  beautiful 
poetry,  and  have  had  it  read  to  me,  and  I  have  taken 
great  delight  therein.  But  you  have  a  rival  at  court 


98  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

who  is  an  adept  at  the  art  of  making  verse.  You 
needs  must  look  to  your  laurels." 

"  'Tis  not  impossible,  your  Highness,  to  over 
match  my  weak  attempts.  I  would  hear  his  verse, 
that  I  might  profit  by  his  muse  and  dress  my  lines  in 
more  pleasing  garb." 

"Your  Majesty,"  bluntly  interposed  Wriothesley, 
"I  challenge  you  to  produce  this  man.  I  do  most 
rigourously  deny  the  existence  of  one  as  clever  as 
Will  Shakespeare  in  the  art  of  making  rhyme." 

"Softly,  softly,  Southampton.  You  do  bridle  like 
a  peacock  at  danger  to  his  mate.  Your  poet  can  no 
doubt  take  care  of  himself.  In  the  first  place  'tis  no 
man,  but  a  maid,  I'd  match  against  your  gifted 
friend." 

Southampton  fell  back  abashed  and  Shakespeare 
looked  in  wonderment  at  the  Queen. 

"Master  Shakespeare,"  she  continued,  "no  doubt 
her  efforts  could  not  compare  with  your  carefully 
prepared  and  polished  verse.  But  she  has  a  quick 
wit,  and  can  extemporize  most  wonderfully.  One 
has  but  to  name  a  subject  and  she  plunges  heatedly 
into  her  rhyme,  greatly  pleasing  our  ears  with  her 
harmonious  jingles.  I  summoned  you  to  me  that  we 
might  have  a  friendly  contest  of  your  wits,  if  you 
will  but  agree.  I  will  suggest  a  theme  which  may 
be  worked  out  in  your  individual  ways.  What  say 
you  to  my  plan  ?" 

"I  am  at  your  Majesty's  command,"  said  Will, 
bowing  low,  apparently  unmoved  by  this  strange 
whim  of  the  Queen." 

"I  will  lay 'you  a  gold  guinea,  my  Lord  Bishop," 
said  Elizabeth,  "that  Anne  Hathaway  carries  off  the 
palm." 


The  Tilt  at  Rhyme  99 

Kitchen  glanced  at  Shakespeare,  then  replied, 
"Done,"  much  to  Her  Majesty's  surprise. 

"You  have  suddenly  turned  gambler,"  she  said, 
"but  'tis  a  bargain.  The  fool  will  hold  the  stakes 
and  pronounce  judgment.  Though  he  be  a  lack-wit 
in  most  things,  he  is  strangely  gifted  with  the  poetic 
muse. 

"Anne,  come  hither.  Set  your  brain  to  work,  and 
for  my  guinea's  sake  contrive  your  best." 

Anne  Hathaway  stepped  demurely  forward,  her 
eyes  downcast,  a  heightened  color  in  her  cheeks. 

"What  is  your  Majesty's  theme?"  she  said. 

"Let  it  be  that  world-old  subject,  Anne,  that  came 
upon  earth  with  woman,  and  has  ever  since  been  the 
standard  of  our  sex, — 'Love.' ' 

Anne  bowed,  then  turning  toward  the  two  young 
men,  she  opened  wide  her  eyes,  looking  into  Shakes 
peare's  face  as  though  she  challenged  his  very  soul, 
and  in  a  clear  and  melodious  voice,  which  never 
faltered  in  its  cadence,  she  cast  her  defiance  at  his 
feet: 


"We  ask  thee,  master  of  thy  craft, 

Whose  mummers  mouth  at  thy  command, 
What  power  defies  the  love-god's  shaft 
Or  'scapes  the  darts  from  his  unerring  hand? 

The  humble  home,  the  royal  court, 
All  hold  the  creatures  of  his  will  ; 

In  sooth  he  finds  it  mighty  sport 
Transfixing  here  a  Jack  and  there  a  Jill. 

The  noble  lord  with  lowly  dame 
Contrives  most  cunningly  to  mate ; 

The  lady  high,  the  country  swain, 
His  arrows  link,  and  guide  their  lifelong  fate. 


100  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Old  age  and  youth  alike  do  bend 

'Neath  Cupid's  rod  and  welcome  rule, 
And  dignitaries  high  attend 

His  amorous  court  and  weakly  play  the  fool. 

We  conjure  thee,  O  mighty  bard, 

To  name  a  greater  force  on  earth ; 
Love  rules  the  throne,  the  lowly  sward, 

Love  comes  to  love  with  every  mortal's  birth." 

She  finished,  and  stood  quietly  in  front  of  the 
Queen,  while  Elizabeth,  her  maidens,  the  churchman, 
and  Shakespeare,  and  even  Southampton  gave  vent 
to  their  pleasure  in  a  round  of  clapping  hands. 

"Nobly  done,  Anne,"  said  the  monarch;  "you 
have  surpassed  yourself  to-day.  I  think  I'll  hold  my 
guinea  safe  and  lodge  its  companion  in  my  purse. 
Ah,  Master  Shakespeare,  'twas  hardly  fair  to  let  a 
woman  fling  the  gauntlet.  Her  clever  catch  demands 
a  cunning  answer." 

Kitchen  stood  at  one  side  with  glum  visage,  the 
sight  of  which  caused  Pulsifer  Kyd  to  chuckle  in 
great  glee. 

"Bishop,  Bishop,"  he  shouted,  "thy  fat  paunch 
will  be  denied  a  bottle  or  two  of  Rhenish  wine  to 
make  up  for  thy  extravagance.  Master  Shakespeare, 
begin,  and  let  your  judge  be  present  at  your  obse 
quies." 

Shakespeare  smiled,  and  looking  at  the  Queen  de 
livered  his  response  in  similar  strain  to  the  challenge 
of  the  maid : 

"There  is  a  force  on  this  broad  earth 

To  which  my  answer  doth  incline — 
Alack  we  mourn  the  woeful  dearth 

Of  pilgrims  to  its  meek  and  lowly  shrine. 


The  Tilt  at  Rhyme  101 

The  student  in  his  narrow  cell 

Does  seek  the  light  it  bears  above, 
A  beacon  that  proclaims  full  well 

Its  mastery  o'er  the  fickle  reign  of  love. 

To  Knowledge  I  do  now  refer ; 

Its  arts  prepare  us  to  withstand 
Fair  Cupid's  wiles ;  we  do  not  err, 

But  penetrate  his  mask  and  'void  his  hand. 

We  find  repose  in  Learning's  bed, 

Oblivion  the  heart  doth  hold, 
Love  loves  love  out,  and  love  is  dead, 

The  intellect  alone  is  proven  gold. 

I  do  maintain  and  still  contend 

Love  is  the  creature  of  an  hour, 
But  Wisdom  rules  until  the  end 

And  this  curt  maxim  proves — 'Knowledge  is  power.' " 

For  a  moment  after  he  had  finished  his  verse  there 
was  a  hush  in  the  garden.  Anne  looked  at  him  in 
amazement,  a  strange  light  of  admiration  for  his 
gifted  mind  shining  for  an  instant  in  her  beautiful 
eyes. 

"Wonderful!  Wonderful!"  at  last  spake  the 
Queen,  while  the  jester  capered  to  Kitchen's  side  and 
dropped  the  guineas  in  his  hand,  the  grin  of  joy  that 
spread  over  the  Bishop's  face  causing  the  lookers-on 
to  laugh  heartily. 

"  'Tis  a  coin  well  expended/'  said  Elizabeth. 
"Master  Shakespeare,  I  cry  you  quits.  Hereafter  I 
will  lay  my  gold  on  you  'gainst  all  comers.  But  the 
maid's  was  a  praiseworthy  verse.  My  Lord  Bishop, 
we  should  wed  this  pair.  Their  progeny,  if  it  did 
but  take  their  pattern,  would  make  this  the  most 
poetic  court  in  all  of  Europe." 


102  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"Your  Majesty,"  angrily  retorted  Anne,  "the 
maiden  might  have  something  to  say,  were  she  con 
sulted." 

"Tut,  tut,  girl,  can  you  not  relish  a  jest  ?  It  seems 
to  me  you  have  been  over-rude  to  Master  Shakes 
peare  on  other  occasions  that  I  now  recall." 

Anne  Hathaway  stood  for  a  moment  in  silence  at 
this  rebuke,  then  suddenly  some  strange  impulse 
seized  her,  and  crossing  rapidly  before  the  Queen  she 
stopped  in  front  of  Will,  and  stretching  out  her 
hand,  said : 

"Master  Shakespeare,  if  I  have  hurt  you  by  my 
rudeness,  I  do  now  offer  you  most  humble  apology. 
You  have  taught  me  a  lesson  to-day  by  your  forbear 
ance  and  the  gentle  usage  of  your  triumph.  I  extend 
you  my  hand  in  token  of  my  friendship  and  of  my 
appreciation  of  a  modest  man." 

In  surprise  Will  grasped  the  tiny  hand,  and  drop 
ping  on  one  knee  he  bent  to  press  a  kiss  upon  her 
finger  tips,  but  she  gently  withdrew  them,  saying: 

"Nay,  bow  to  your  superiors  and  your  Queen.  My 
pride  is  humbled,  gentle  sir,  and  henceforth  I  shall 
consider  myself  thy  inferior  in  station,  and  promise 
never  to  offend  thee  more." 

"Didst  ever  see  a  maid  so  chastened  by  defeat?" 
whispered  the  Queen  to  Kitchen,  as  she  rose  to  sig 
nify  that  their  hour  amongst  the  roses  was  ended. 


CHAPTER  VIII 
A  QUEEN'S  FAVOURITE 

"S-sh,  your  Majesty !  'tis  the  hour  you  asked  to  be 
awakened.  Speak  gently  or  the  other  maids  will 
overhear. 

Elizabeth,  who  had  been  muttering  a  sleepy  pro 
test,  opened  her  eyes,  yawned,  stretched  out  her 
arms,  and  sat  up  in  her  royal  bed,  looking  blankly 
at  Anne,  who  had  for  several  moments  been  vigor 
ously  shaking  her. 

"You  have  a  wondrous  strength  in  those  slim  fin 
gers,  girl,"  she  said,  ruefully  rubbing  her  shoulder, 
"but  you  have  been  faithful  to  your  trust.  I  scarce 
seem  to  have  closed  my  eyes  in  sleep  when  I  am 
aroused  by  your  violent  clutching.  We  must  hasten 
or  Dudley  will  grow  impatient  at  the  delay.  I  doubt 
not  he  is  even  now  in  the  tomb-house,  trampling  out 
his  impatience  on  the  cold  flags,  and  muttering  an 
athemas  over  poor  Wolsey's  sacred  bones." 

Anne  assisted  the  Queen  to  dress,  and  when  the 
toilet  was  completed  she  threw  a  long  dark  cloak 
upon  Her  Majesty's  shoulders  and  drew  the  hood 
over  her  head,  which  made  her  look  a  very  common 
place  person  indeed. 

"Have  you  the  key?"  asked  her  mistress,  and  the 
girl  quickly  drew  from  her  pocket  an  iron  ring  on 


104  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

which  was  fastened  an  enormous  key.  Elizabeth 
nodded  and  Anne  restored  it  to  its  hiding-place. 

"Now  light  me  a  taper,  my  dear,  and  precede  me 
in  the  passage.  I  would  have  your  beauty  shown 
to  its  full  advantage,  that  if  we  should  by  any 
accident  be  seen  the  blame  might  fall  upon  your 
shoulders.  My  presence  would  never  be  suspected 
in  this  uncouth  array.  'Tis  a  cruel  subterfuge, 
Anne,  but  I  know  your  faithful  heart,  and  the  dan 
ger  is  remote.  You  know  that  Elizabeth  never 
forgets  a  service,  and  I  have  already  denied  King 
Philip's  request  for  your  union  with  his  minister." 

"Your  Majesty  is  most  kind,"  said  the  maid,  as 
she  curtseyed  in  gratitude  to  Her  Highness. 

"Are  any  of  the  maids  aroused,  Anne?" 

"No,  I  told  them  yester-eve  that  you  were  much 
fatigued  and  desired  to  spend  the  morning  in  repose. 
They  sleep  soundly  and  await  my  summons  to 
attend  your  robing." 

"You  are  indeed  a  treasure.  It  seems  that  in  all 
my  court  Anne  Hathaway  alone  proves  steadfast; 
but  you  bear  the  secret  of  my  heart  in  your  keeping 
and  it  is  a  mighty  trust.  You  alone  of  all  the  sub 
jects  in  my  kingdom  hold  me  in  your  power,  but 
I  do  so  thoroughly  confide  in  you  that  I  wager  you 
would  cut  out  your  tongue  ere  word  of  my  adventure 
passed  your  lips." 

"And  my  heart  also,  your  Majesty.  I  would 
freely  give  my  life  for  you,  and  dying,  would  con 
sider  myself  honored." 

"Ah,  there  is  a  world  of  truth  in  your  honest 
eyes,  which  look  straight  into  mine  with  never  a 
flutter  of  dismay.  They  form  strange  contrast  to 


A  Queen's  Favourite  105 

the  drooping  lids  of  my  many  servile  flatterers.  I 
have  seen  but  one  pair  that  can  match  them,  and 
that  but  recently,  and  strange  to  say  they  shine 
from  underneath  the  lofty  brow  of  our  new  aspirant 
for  fame,  the  gentle  Will  Shakespeare." 

Anne  flushed  but  said  nothing,  and  the  Queen 
stepped  quickly  to  the  wall  near  the  head  of  her 
canopied  bed.  She  fumbled  for  a  moment  until 
she  pressed  a  hidden  spring,  and  a  secret  panel  flew 
open,  disclosing  a  dark  passageway  that  descended 
abruptly  from  her  apartment. 

Elizabeth  stepped  aside  and  Anne  passed  her  and 
entered  the  corridor,  holding  high  a  flickering  taper 
to  dissipate  the  gloom.  The  Queen  followed,  clos 
ing  the  panel  with  a  sharp  click,  and  they  proceeded, 
cautiously  feeling  the  way  until  the  candle  disclosed 
a  long  flight  of  steps,  which  they  descended  and 
which  brought  them  to  a  stone-walled  tunnel,  whose 
damp  blocks  were  covered  with  slime,  and  whose 
dripping  ceiling  rendered  its  passage  most  distaste 
ful.  The  Queen  shuddered,  but  they  went  on  until 
the  floor  sloped  upward  and  became  much  dryer, 
and  at  last  they  were  brought  to  a  halt  by  coming 
in  contact  with  a  huge  iron  door.  Anne  produced 
the  key  and  inserted  it  in  the  lock,  which  grated 
rustily  and  turned  at  her  pressure.  She  extinguished 
her  taper  and  opened  the  door,  while  a  feeble  ray 
of  the  gray  dawn  filtered  through  a  grating  opposite 
them  and  shed  a  sickly  light  upon  the  dead  cardinal's 
burial-place. 

They  had  entered  the  famous  "tomb-house"  con 
structed  by  Elizabeth's  royal  father,  Henry  the 
Eighth,  for  the  great  Wolsey  before  the  prelate  had 


106  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

fallen  into  disfavour  with  his  master,  but  which  has 
stood  through  the  ages  as  a  monument  to  his  fame. 

As  their  eyes  became  accustomed  to  the  gloom 
they  made  out  the  cloaked  figure  of  a  man  standing 
dimly  outlined  at  the  head  of  the  tomb. 

"Anne,  if  you  will  stand  apart,  and  see  nothing 
or  hear  nothing  save  the  approach  of  some  prying 
interloper,  your  Queen  will  recompense  you  most 
liberally." 

The  maid  walked  swiftly  to  the  farther  side  of 
the  roomy  vault,  and  took  her  station  at  the  grating, 
with  her  face  pressed  to  its  iron  bars  and  her  eyes 
scanning  closely  the  deserted  courtyard  and  the 
castle  walls. 

The  Queen  threw  aside  her  hood  and  seated  her 
self  upon  the  low  tomb. 

"Ah,  Robert,"  said  she,  "I  have  kept  you  waiting." 

The  man  strode  quickly  to  her,  and  sitting  by 
her  side  he  seized  her  yielding  hand,  which  he  kissed 
and  continued  to  hold  in  his  strong  clasp  as  he  made 
answer. 

"My  Queen,"  said  he,  "the  delay  was  sweet,  for 
'twas  spent  in  contemplation  of  your  approach ;  and 
the  anxiety  that  troubled  my  breast,  the  fear  that 
you  would  forget  your  tryst,  has  made  my  reward 
doubly  dear." 

"Dudley,  have  I  ever  broken  my  word  with  you?" 

"Never,  never,  Elizabeth.  There  is  one  word 
alone  that  I  have  never  yet  been  able  to  obtain  from 
your  dear  lips,  and  that  is  a  final  answer  to  my  suit. 
With  you  as  my  wife,  and  writh  our  combined 
strength  behind  the  throne,  we  might  even  yet 
become  the  masters  of  the  world.  With  Drake  upon 


A  Queen's  Favourite  107 

the  high  seas,  myself  in  command  of  our  armies,  and 
your  firm  hand  and  steady  brain  directing  the  des 
tinies  of  the  royal  court,  we  could  form  a  mighty 
triumvirate  the  like  of  which  the  world  has  never 
known.  What  say  you,  my  liege?  Does  it  not 
tempt  you  to  unbend  ?" 

"Leicester,  ever  since  I  was  a  child  and  the  noble 
Seymour  offered  his  heart  and  hand  to  the  little 
princess  of  scarce  fourteen  years,  I  have  had  suitors 
by  the  score,  princes  and  kings,  ministers  and  earls, 
courtiers  and  fools;  but  never  until  you  burst  upon 
my  life  like  the  fierce  sun  upon  the  purple  morning- 
glory's  eager  breast  have  I  been  wooed  by  a  man. 
I  am  sore  tempted  by  your  pleading,  and  though  my 
heart  finds  ready  answer  my  good  sense  holds  me 
in  restraint." 

"Elizabeth,  my  dear  love,  will  you  ever  cease 
to  be  a  slave  to  your  one  idea  of  the  divine  right  of 
kings  ?  Admitting  I  am  of  lowly  birth  I  have  risen 
to  the  heights  of  fame  through  my  own  untiring 
zeal.  I  have  even  made  my  impress  on  your  queenly 
heart,  and  what  need  we  care  for  the  opinion  of  the 
world?  Full  many  times  ere  this  considerations  of 
rank  have  bowed  before  the  promptings  of  love, 
and  kings  and  queens  have  taken  as  their  consorts 
persons  of  most  humble  station.  And  history  has 
yet  to  show  us  wherein  such  marriage  has  been 
attended  by  unhappiness. 

"Ah,  Elizabeth,  let  your  soul  whisper  through 
your  loving  lips  the  truth  which  I  see  shining  in 
your  eyes.  Come  to  me,  my  love.  I  care  not  for 
your  throne.  'Twere  better  far  were  Mary  Stuart 
at  the  helm  to  banish  you  to  some  distant  shore, 


108  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

where  I  could  woo  you  and  thence  remove  my  own 
considerable  household,  which  I'd  place  beneath 
your  sway  and  let  you  rule  forever,  not  England's, 
but  Leicester's  Queen. " 

"In  faith,  you  plead  well,  Dudley;  I  am  like  to 
lose  my  reason  in  this  dismal  tomb.  Know  you  not 
that  Philip  II  most  ardently  does  demand  my 
hand?  I  have  kept  him  at  bay  for  a  month  past, 
but  I  can  put  him  off  no  longer.  He  refuses  to 
submit  to  the  delay,  and  presses  me  to  give  him 
answer  straightaway.  Would  it  be  politic  to  antag 
onize  so  powerful  a  monarch?" 

The  Queen  felt  Leicester's  form  stiffen  at  her  side. 

"Bess/'  he  said,  "I  pray  God  a  better  fate  awaits 
you  than  marriage  with  this  Spanish  fiend.  You 
know  the  dreadful  tortures  his  cruelties  inflicted 
upon  his  victims  of  the  Inquisition,  and  his  vile 
sanction  of  the  au-to-da-fe.  His  yellow  face,  his 
evil  eyes  gloating  upon  your  queenly  form,  and 
his  greedy  heart  desiring  the  wealth  of  your  broad 
lands,  so  sicken  me  that  at  times  when  I  see  him 
sitting,  an  uncouth  mass  of  flesh,  at  your  right  hand, 
I  am  sore  tempted  to  unsheath  my  sword  and  plunge 
it  into  his  wicked  breast." 

"But,"  mused  Elizabeth,  "he  might  find  he  had 
lost  his  power  did  I  but  consent  to  take  his  hand. 
Methinks  'twould  be  a  royal  game  to  tame  this 
monarch;  he'd  find  for  once  a  woman's  will  was 
stronger  than  his  own." 

"Nay,  nay,  my  Queen.  He'd  be  thy  humble  slave 
as  long  as  it  did  suit  him  to  thus  act,  but  when  he 
had  annexed  your  throne  and  sown  the  seeds  of 
his  Catholicism  most  broadly  in  your  Protestant 


A  Queen's  Favourite  109 

land,  he'd  then  flash  forth  his  Satan's  hand;  and  I 
am  as  certain  that  he  would  have  you  slain  if  you 
did  attempt  to  balk  his  plans  as  I  am  that  I  love 
you  with  all  the  vigour  of  my  troubled  soul. 

"Elizabeth,  Elizabeth,  dismiss  him  to  his  Spanish 
throne;  'tis  even  dangerous  that  he  lingers  in  yo;ir 
court.  Why,  but  yesterday  I  overheard  the  Duke  of 
Alva  and  the  minister,  Don  Gomez,  conversing  in 
Spanish,  of  which  they  thought  my  mind  was  igno 
rant.  I  could  catch  but  a  word  here  and  there,  but 
the  Queen  of  Scots'  and  Norfolk's  name  fell  often 
from  their  lips.  Who  knows  what  scheme  their 
fertile  brains  may  be  contriving  in  reference  to  your 
fair  prisoner?  We'd  better  have  them  watched, 
Elizabeth." 

"Let  him  take  care,  Dudley,  how  he  meddles  at 
my  court !"  angrily  replied  the  Queen.  "He  will 
awaken  a  demon  in  my  breast  that  is  not  easily  sub 
dued.  He  is  in  my  stronghold  now,  and  his  armies 
are  in  distant  Spain;  he  is  like  to  find  himself  in 
the  same  predicament  as  his  victims  of  the  Inquisi 
tion."  She  shook  off  Leicester's  hand  and  arose, 
stamping  her  foot  and  pacing  back  and  forth  in 
the  narrow  vault  in  her  fury. 

A  gleam  of  joy  flashed  in  Leicester's  eyes  but  he 
spoke  in  soothing  tones : 

"Nay,  Elizabeth,  the  torture  is  a  relic  of  bygone 
years,  and  this  is  a  more  civilized  court  than  that 
of  barbaric  Spain,  but  you  may  send  him  scuttling 
to  his  home  with  a  message  in  his  ear  that  will 
keep  the  sea  forever  between  you." 

"Robert,  my  ministers  do  plead  most  strongly 
for  this  union.  Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  my  chancellor, 


110  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

is  set  on  it ;  Walter  Raleigh  and  Amias  Paulet  recog 
nize  the  advantage  of  so  powerful  an  ally  to  our 
forces;  and  did  not  this  question  of  religion  inter 
vene  I  am  sure  I  could  not  hope  to  'scape  the  enor 
mous  pressure  that  would  be  brought  upon  me  from 
all  sides.  Though  he  would  be  husband  in  name 
alone,  for  as  I  have  told  you,  if  I  am  to  be  joined 
to  a  man  I  do  not  love  I  would  soon  show  him  what 
it  cost  to  secure  the  reins  of  power." 

".Then  you  confess  that  you  would  avoid  this 
match?" 

"Leicester,  I  am  but  a  woman  after  all.  Do  not 
press  me  further,"  she  said,  and  leaned  weakly 
against  the  tomb,  resting  her  elbow  on  its  marble 
slab. 

The  Earl  dropped  to  his  knee  and  seized  her 
hand,  a  world  of  passion  throbbing  in  his  voice  as 
he  pleaded  his  cause: 

"O  Bess,  my  darling  Queen,  my  heart's  desire! 
can  you  not  see  that  I  am  near  mad  for  love  of  thee? 
Away  with  thoughts  of  rank  and  fame.  Let  love 
outshine  them  all  and  make  of  this  damp  tomb  a 
monument  in  the  temple  of  my  memory  to  designate 
the  hour  of  your  surrender.  Come!  Come!  Let 
me  hold  you  in  my  arms,  and  with  kisses  hot  upon 
our  lips  we'll  plight  our  troth,  while  the  shade  of 
your  father's  great  Cardinal  nods  approval,  though 
we  see  him  not." 

He  attempted  to  draw  her  to  him,  but  she  sadly 
shook  her  head. 

"Robert,"  said  she,  "we  are  both  of  us  past  the 
prime  of  life,  though  you  look  not  your  age  by 
twenty  years.  Our  hearts  alone  are  young,  but  our 


A  Queen's  Favourite  111 

bodies  are  not  proof  against  the  ravages  of  time. 
Why,  the  extremest  art  of  my  hand-maidens  is 
required  to  restore  the  roses  to  my  cheeks,  to  arch 
my  lips,  and  to  smooth  the  wrinkles  that  come  on 
apace,  and  they  do  deftly  dress  my  hair,  most  cun 
ningly  concealing  here  and  there  a  streak  of  gray. 

"Ah!  Dudley,  Dudley!  We  are  a  pair  of  fools. 
I've  known  you  long  and  reverenced  you  much, 
but  I  must  say  'twere  better  far  that  we  were  in 
our  beds,  displaying  the  sense  that  is  due  us  through 
our  years  by  seeking  peaceful  slumber.  Alas !  I  was 
romantic  ever,  and  will  be  until  I  die." 

Dudley  arose  and  stood  before  his  Queen. 

"Elizabeth,"  said  he,  "you  know  full  well  the 
outer  shell  counts  naught  with  me.  Despite  your 
years  you  are  still  more  beautiful  than  all  the  ladies 
of  your  court  to  my  eyes.  Tis  your  soul  of  souls 
that  I  worship.  Our  hearts  have  been  in  close  com 
munion  since  first  we  met,  and  you  are  my  Queen, 
and  I  am  your  King  by  all  the  laws  of  nature  and 
of  love,  though  we  may  never  appear  as  such  in  the 
eyes  of  the  world. 

"What  matters  it  that  we  may  never  give  our 
progeny  to  England  to  consummate  a  line  of  Kings 
that,  bred  in  loving  wedlock  instead  of  royally  ar 
ranged  affairs  of  state,  inheriting  the  better  qualities 
of  their  sire  and  noble  dam,  would  change  the  his 
tory  of  our  land  and  revolutionize  the  world  ?  What 
matters  it  that  we  may  never  know  the  loving  touch 
of  infant  hands  upon  our  silvering  locks,  that  we 
may  never  hear  the  sound  of  childish  voices  calling 
us  to  join  them  in  their  sports?  We'll  have  each 
other  forever  and  for  aye.  Elizabeth,  deny  your 


112  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

heart  no  longer,  but  take  shelter  on  my  breast,  the 
only  one  in  all  your  court  that  is  sincere." 

His  eyes  filled  and  he  could  speak  no  more,  but 
opened  wide  his  arms  in  passionate  appeal  to  the 
Queen. 

Elizabeth  faltered  and  seemed  about  to  turn  away, 
but  her  love  for  the  handsome  Earl  surged  upon  her 
in  all  its  mighty  force,  o'erleaping  her  reason,  and 
taking  possession  of  her  very  soul.  She  fought 
against  its  influence  for  a  space,  but  it  was  too 
strong,  and  with  a  happy  sigh  she  bowed  her  head 
and  fell  into  her  lover's  eager  arms. 

He  gave  a  glad  cry  of  exultant  joy,  and  lifting 
her  dear  face  rained  fervent  kisses  upon  her  sub 
missive  lips. 

"At  last !  At  last !  My  Queen !"  he  murmured. 
"Your  King  shall  go  home  now,  but  he  will  sail 
without  his  bride.  Let  me  hear  your  dear  lips  once 
proclaim  the  old  sweet  token  of  all  womankind." 

Elizabeth  looked  up,  her  moist  eyes  shining  like 
twin  stars. 

"Robert,  I  love  thee!  I  love  thee!  I  love  thee!" 
she  repeated,  and  caressed  his  face  with  her  gentle 
hands. 

"And  you  will  be  my  wife,  my  love?" 

The  Queen  looked  into  his  eyes  long  before  she 
answered : 

"Robert,  you  have  won  your  conquest  of  my 
heart  this  morning,  and  I  have  freely  confessed  my 
love  for  you.  I  swear  to  you  o'er  this  sacred  grave 
that  I  will  never  marry  other  man  but  you;  but 
let  me  have  one  year  of  respite  ere  I  give  answer 
to  your  second  prayer." 


A  Queen's  Favourite  113 

"  Tis  an  eternity,  my  love !"  he  argued. 

"Nay,  'twill  pass  quickly;  and  Dudley,  do  not 
fear,  my  heart  tells  me,  though  I  will  not  allow  my 
lips  to  frame,  our  future  fate." 

He  folded  her  in  his  loving  embrace  as  Anne, 
who  had  been  peering  anxiously  through  the  grat 
ing,  uttered  a  warning  "S-sh!" 

"Your  Majesty,"  said  she,  "windows  are  opening 
in  the  palace,  and  the  courtyard  is  becoming  peopled 
with  the  guard." 

"I  must  leave  you,  Dudley,"  said  the  Queen. 
"Some  inquisitive  soldier  may  take  it  into  his  head 
to  peep  into  the  vault." 

"Must  our  period  of  bliss  end  so  soon,  my  love? 
'Tis  but  seldom  that  we  are  allowed  to  hold  our 
tryst,  and  even  here  we  are  attended  by  your  dis 
creet  maid.  My  heart  is  hungry  for  your  company. 
Might  I  not  be  custodian  of  the  key  to  yon  iron  door 
that  I  might  gain  access  to  your  presence  when  my 
love  could  no  longer  be  denied?" 

Elizabeth  gently  shook  her  head  as  she  looked 
at  him  with  an  expression  of  reproach  in  her  loving 
eyes. 

"My  Lord,"  said  she,  "I've  lost  my  heart,  but  I 
will  keep  my  honour." 

He  bowed  low  at  her  rebuke  and  gently  kissed 
her  hand. 

Anne  lighted  the  taper  and  entered  the  passage 
way.  Elizabeth  drew  on  her  hood  and  followed,  and 
as  the  iron  door  clanged  and  the  bolt  was  shot, 
Leicester  stood  with  folded  arms  until  their  foot 
falls  died  away. 


114  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Anne  and  Her  Majesty  entered  the  secret  panel, 
and  the  maid  drew  off  her  mistress's  cloak  and  has 
tily  concealed  it  behind  a  tapestry.  She  then  assisted 
her  to  disrobe,  and  when  the  other  maids  appeared 
at  her  summons  to  assist  in  Her  Majesty's  toilet, 
their  Queen  was  sitting  up  in  her  silken  bed, 
yawning  and  smiling  sleepily  at  their  deferential 
greetings. 


CHAPTER  IX 
THE  CHANCELLOR  AND  THE  FOOL 

The  day  of  the  Queen's  great  festival  upon  the 
Thames  had  arrived  and  the  river  was  dotted  with 
myriads  of  boats  and  barges,  decked  in  gay  colors, 
and  flying  banners  adorned  with  the  royal  arms. 
Workmen  were  putting  the  finishing  touches  to  an 
enormous  stage  that  was  built  upon  a  score  of  floats 
firmly  lashed  together,  and  the  whole  structure  was 
anchored  to  the  farther  bank  by  a  massive  chain 
at  either  corner.  It  was  festooned  with  wires,  from 
which  were  hung  innumerable  torches  and  painted 
lanterns  for  its  illumination  in  the  evening.  The 
trees  upon  the  shore  formed  a  sylvan  background, 
and  a  novel  green-room  where  the  actors  might 
await  their  cues. 

The  royal  court  was  to  be  entertained  by  Will 
Shakespeare's  latest  play,  a  ballad  of  the  forest,  in 
which  were  many  gnomes  and  mystic  sprites,  the 
denizens  of  the  leafy  world,  who  were  ever  Eliza 
beth's  favourite  characters.  JTwas  predicted  that 
the  famous  bard  had  outdone  himself  in  this  last 
creation,  and  the  courtiers  were  a-buzz  with  whis 
pered  prophecies  and  excited  expectations  of  the 
evening's  pleasure. 

The  royal  barge  was  tied  directly  opposite  the 
stage,  and  it  had  been  draped  with  handsome  tapes- 


116  The  Romance  o£  Gentle  Will 

tries  and  provided  with  many  seats  and  covered 
canopies  to  insure  the  comfort  of  the  Queen  and 
her  suite. 

As  its  decoration  had  been  completed,  there  were 
none  on  board  save  an  armed  guardsman  of  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh's  company,  who  had  been  stationed 
there  to  keep  away  the  curious  and  to  protect  the 
rich  draperies  from  thieving  vandals  who  might 
attend  the  festival. 

However,  the  morning  sun  beat  down  fiercely 
upon  the  river,  and  it  was  deserted  save  by  the  work 
men  upon  the  platform;  and  the  guardsman,  who 
was  none  other  than  our  friend  Roger  Covert, 
yawned  and  seated  himself  upon  the  step  of  the 
Queen's  dais.  He  fanned  his  face  with  his  broad 
hat  and  muttered  imprecations  'gainst  the  heat. 

"  Tis  beastly  luck,"  said  he,  "that  I  was  picked 
to  watch  this  craft.  The  sun  will  be  low  ere  I  shall 
be  relieved,  and  there's  never  a  morsel  of  food  or 
drop  to  drink  aboard,  and  no  way  in  which  to  obtain 
the  same.  There's  not  a  soul  in  sight,  nor  like  to 
be  any.  This  bobbing  float  is  as  safe  as  though 
'twere  in  the  mighty  sea.  I'll  lay  me  down  in  the 
shade  of  the  royal  tapestry,  but  will  keep  my  eyes 
and  ears  wide  open  that  I  may  discover  the  approach 
of  some  spying  varlet  who  might  contrive  a  repri 
mand  for  me  from  my  captain.  I  wish  my  laun 
dress  were  here  with  me  to  beguile  the  weary  hours 
away.  But  I  will  most  strictly  live  up  to  my  old 
name,  and  will  be  Roger  'Under  Cover'  in  sooth." 
So  saying,  he  let  down  a  canvas  canopy  at  one 
corner  of  the  barge,  thus  forming  a  narrow  space 
between  the  awning  and  the  tapestry  at  the  rear, 


The  Chancellor  and  the  Fool  117 

and  crawled  therein,  leaving  the  canvas  raised  an 
inch  or  two,  so  that  he  might  survey  the  winding 
river. 

"Ah,  there  is  comfort,"  said  he.  "I'll  rest  my 
weary  bones,  and  natheless  be  on  guard,  and  will 
be  freshened  for  the  eventide's  delights." 

He  lay  for  a  long  time  and  nothing  occurred  to 
interrupt  the  current  of  his  thoughts.  The  cool 
repose  of  his  retreat  brought  drowsiness  to  his  lids, 
and  he  caught  himself  blinking  and  nodding  in  his 
efforts  to  conquer  his  desire  to  sleep. 

"This  will  never  do,"  he  said,  stretching  him 
self.  "I  must  walk  upon  the  deck  again  or  I  will 
prove  false  to  my  trust."  He  was  about  to  arise 
when  his  eye  caught  the  flash  of  an  oar  some  little 
distance  down  the  river,  and  he  lay  still,  peering 
'neath  the  awning  in  sleepy  wonderment. 

"Why,  'tis  a  boat,  and  heading  this  way,"  he 
said.  "I'll  bide  a  while." 

As  the  craft  came  nearer  his  eyes  opened  wide  in 
astonishment,  and  he  gave  a  low  whistle  of  surprise. 

"That  villain  Cordes.  And  the  jester  is  his  oars 
man.  There  must  be  some  deviltry  afoot." 

The  boat  drew  up  to  the  barge  and  the  fool  passed 
a  cord  around  the  canopy's  rod,  and  the  pair  clam 
bered  on  board. 

"We  are  in  luck,"  said  Pulsifer  Kyd,  "the  float  is 
deserted." 

"Ah,  'tis  a  great  barge.  There  will  be  many 
nobles  to-night  on  board,"  said  the  Spaniard. 

"If  you  could  speak  the  Queen's  English  more 
smoothly,  you  and  I  might  get  along  better," 
snapped  the  jester. 


118  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  Spaniard  shrugged  his  shoulders  but  said 
nothing. 

"My  master  wants  a  man  he  can  depend  upon 
to  do  a  dangerous  piece  of  work,  and  casting  about 
for  a  tool  he  came  to  me,  who  suddenly  took  thought 
of  your  foul  visage,  and  suggested  you  to  him.  I 
know  not  full  particulars  as  yet,  but  it  is  a  matter 
of  disposing  of  a  certain  person  who  is  an  obstacle 
in  his  path. 

"Can  you  be  counted  on,  even  to  the  taking  of  a 
life?" 

"I  will  kill  a  many  men  if  he  does  make  much 
reward." 

"You  need  have  no  fear;  he'll  pay  you  well  and 
will  get  you  safely  out  of  England.  Can  you 
swim?" 

"Like  a  water  snake." 

"By  my  faith,  you  look  the  part.  But  we  must 
hasten.  He'll  have  a  boat  a  hundred  yards  down 
stream,  and  if  you  reach  it  your  safety  is  assured. 
I  am  to  meet  him  in  the  Queen's  deserted  throne- 
room  an  hour  before  the  set  of  sun,  and  there  I  will 
be  given  the  details  of  his  plan.  Join  me  in  the 
scullery  when  the  attendants  are  at  table  and  I  will 
disclose  the  plot." 

The  Spaniard  nodded  his  assent,  and  after  an  in 
spection  of  the  rear  bank,  and  several  muttered 
directions  on  the  part  of  the  fool,  they  clambered 
over  the  side  and  pushed  off  the  boat,  rowing 
swiftly  for  the  shore. 

Roger  could  scarce  control  his  excitement  until 
the  villains  had  hauled  their  craft  upon  the  bank 
and  had  disappeared  in  opposite  directions  beneath 


The  Chancellor  and  the  Fool  119 

the  trees.  Then  he  scrambled  forth  hastily  and 
paced  up  and  down  the  deck  of  the  barge,  his  drow 
siness  entirely  dissipated  by  the  startling  visit  of 
the  evil  pair. 

"An  hour  before  sunset,  in  the  throne-room,"  he 
muttered.  "Well,  Roger  'Under  Cover'  will  be 
there,  though  it  will  necessitate  a  swift  stretch  of 
my  legs  and  a  woful  neglect  of  my  belly  if  my  relief 
is  late." 

He  sought  no  more  his  cool  retreat,  but  spent  the 
remainder  of  the  day  on  the  unshaded  deck,  occa 
sionally  moistening  his  parched  lips  with  his  tongue, 
and  cursing  at  his  carelessness  in  neglecting  to  pro 
vide  himself  with  food  and  drink. 

The  hours  passed  with  interminable  slowness,  and 
when  the  boat  arrived,  bringing  the  soldier  who  was 
to  stand  watch  until  the  arrival  of  the  royal  party, 
he  fairly  leapt  upon  him,  snatching  his  flask  and 
draining  its  contents  despite  his  angry  protests. 
Then  he  jumped  into  the  boat,  cursing  and  shouting 
to  the  startled  oarsmen  to  make  haste.  His  action 
had  the  desired  effect,  for  they  pulled  like  mad, 
thinking  that  he  had  become  crazed  by  the  heat 
of  the  sun,  and  fearing  that  he  would  leap  into  the 
river  before  they  reached  the  shore. 

Ere  the  bow  of  the  boat  touched  the  landing  he 
was  out,  and  wading  knee-deep  in  the  water,  rushed 
up  the  bank  and  through  the  trees  as  though  the 
Devil  were  after  him,  then  cursed  himself  again  and 
again  as  he  realized  that  his  wet  boots  would  leave  a 
tell-tale  trail. 

He  hurried  to  his  quarters,  and  throwing  them 
aside,  drew  on  a  dry  pair  over  his  damp  hose,  then 


120  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

skirted  the  barracks  wall  and  darted  unnoticed  into 
one  of  the  many  doorways  of  the  castle. 

He  threaded  the  winding  corridors  until  he  came 
to  the  main  hall,  then  tiptoed  cautiously  to  the  en 
trance  of  the  throne-room,  and  could  hardly  keep 
from  shouting  in  his  delight  at  finding  it  empty. 

He  ran  across  the  polished  floor  until  he  arrived 
at  the  dais  of  the  throne.  Clearing  its  steps  at  a 
bound,  he  darted  behind  the  heavy  arras  in  the  rear, 
and  clutching  its  folds  leaned  against  the  paneled 
wall  and  panted  heavily. 

He  had  barely  got  his  breath  when  the  odd  figure 
of  the  jester  pranced  in  at  the  door  and  capered 
toward  the  throne.  The  shrewd  rogue  was  grimac 
ing  and  muttering  silly  rhymes  in  case  some  unwel 
come  member  of  the  royal  household  should  walk 
in  upon  him,  for  he  knew  that  he  was  considered 
a  privileged  person,  and  that  his  presence  in  the 
room  would  be  attributed  to  some  strange  freak  of 
his  misshapen  brain. 

He  stopped  in  front  of  the  throne,  then  after  a 
moment  climbed  the  steps  and  seated  himself  in  the 
Queen's  allotted  place,  crossing  his  legs  and  bob 
bing  his  head  as  he  crooned  a  meaningless  tune. 
Covert  stealthily  drew  aside  the  arras  to  watch  the 
grotesque  fool,  but  dropped  it  quickly  as  he  saw 
the  tall  figure  of  a  man  step  through  the  entrance. 
The  stranger  turned  and  drew  the  hangings,  then 
strode  rapidly  to  the  throne. 

Kyd  stretched  out  his  hand  in  mock  anger, 
reciting : 


The  Chancellor  and  the  Fool  121 

"My  Chancellor  is  late, 
What  can  he  mean  ? 
Most  humbly  bend  your  knee, 
I  am  thy  Queen." 

"Have  done  with  your  fooling!"  angrily  said  the 
new-comer,  "we  are  here  on  sterner  business.  Hast 
seen  the  Spaniard?" 

"Yes,  Sir  Thomas,"  said  the  jester,  laying  aside 
his  buffoonery,  and  speaking  as  intelligently  as  the 
nobler  conspirator.  "I  had  him  on  the  royal  barge 
to-day  and  explained  to  him  all  I  knew  of  your 
plan." 

"Did  he  agree  to  it?" 

"Yes,  my  Lord,  you  can  buy  him  body  and  soul 
for  a  few  pounds.  'Twill  be  good  to  get  him  out 
of  the  country  before  he  slits  the  throats  of  more 
of  us.  I  am  to  meet  him  at  the  scullery  in  an  hour 
and  there  will  post  him  as  to  the  final  details.  You 
know  you  have  kept  me  in  the  dark  concerning  your 
intended  victim." 

"Pulsifer,  it  were  not  the  part  of  wisdom  to  name 
our  man  until  the  compact  has  been  sealed,  but  at 
tend  me  close  and  carry  out  my  directions  and  you 
will  not  go  unrewarded." 

"I  am  your  slave,"  said  the  jester,  as  he  folded 
his  hands. 

The  Chancellor  placed  his  foot  upon  the  step  and 
leaned  his  elbow  upon  his  knee  as  he  proceeded  in  a 
low  voice,  which  was  distinctly  audible  to  the  hidden 
guardsman,  with  his  nefarious  scheme. 

"Kyd,"  said  he,  "as  you  know,  my  suit  of  the 
Lady  Anne  Hathaway  was  progressing  most  favour 
ably  until  it  received  a  sudden  check  by  the  arrival 


122  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

of  this  romantic  playwright  at  court.  I  know  not 
if  she  loves  him,  and  'tis  certain  that  he  seems  too 
deeply  immersed  in  the  production  of  his  plays  to 
give  much  heed  to  the  caprices  of  Cupid,  but  the  day 
of  his  advent  marked  a  change  in  her  demeanor 
toward  me. 

"Previously  she  was  all  smiles,  and  welcomed  my 
approach  with  merry  jest  and  my  sallies  with  maid 
enly  repartee ;  but  now  she  avoids  me  at  every  turn, 
and  though  I  have  sought  speech  with  her  for  a 
month,  I  have  never  once  met  with  success." 

"She  must  be  bewitched,  my  Lord." 

"By  my  faith,  fool,  I  believe  she  is.  But  you 
know  full  well  how  dangerous  it  is  to  balk  my  plans. 
I  am  as  determined  to  wed  the  fickle  maid  as  I  am 
that  this  interloper  shall  witness  his  last  triumph 
to-night.  The  programme  is  this,  Pulsifer:  To 
night  I  am  in  charge  of  the  disposition  of  the 
Queen's  suite  upon  the  royal  barge.  I  have  so 
arranged  that  this  fellow,  Shakespeare,  will  be  seated 
at  an  extreme  corner  of  the  float  in  company  with 
several  of  the  Queen's  ladies,  while  Raleigh,  Essex, 
and  the  other  courtiers  will  rest  at  some  distance 
across  the  platform.  We  will  dress  Cordes  in  the 
garb  of  an  attendant  and  let  him  stand  at  his  vic 
tim's  elbow. 

"During  the  final  tableau  of  the  play,  while  the 
attention  of  the  courtiers  is  riveted  upon  the  stage, 
let  him  quickly  stab  the  poet  to  the  heart,  and  leap 
ing  backward  into  the  river,  draw  the  body  with  him 
and  the  waves  of  the  Thames  will  make  final  dispo 
sition  of  this  stumbling-block  in  my  path.  He  may 
then  swim  down  stream,  where  the  sailors  will  await 


The  Chancellor  and  the  Fool  123 

him,  all  ignorant  of  his  deed,  and  will  carry  him 
and  his  reward  on  board  of  a  trading-vessel  which 
sets  sail  for  Spain  with  the  morning  tide." 

"What  recompense  will  you  make  him,  and  how 
are  we  to  deliver  it  to  him?" 

"  'Tis  worth  a  hundred  pounds,  Kyd.  The  price 
is  cheap  if  it  will  bring  me  my  bride,  and  I'll  draw 
it  on  Elizabeth's  coffers,  and  charge  it  to  expenses 
of  the  festival.  'Twill  be  a  grim  jest,  Pulsifer." 

"Aye,  but  whose  hand  will  convey  it  to  Fer 
nando?" 

"That  will  be  your  duty.  'Tis  the  one  sticking- 
point.  If  you  pay  him  in  advance,  think  you  that 
the  Spaniard  will  carry  out  his  contract?" 

"My  master,  I  will  answer  for  that.  We'll  own 
his  soul  by  your  lavish  expenditure.  Besides,  his 
evil  heart  does  so  delight  in  the  love  of  killing  that 
I  swear  he  would  not  forego  the  joy  of  twisting 
his  knife  in  Will  Shakespeare's  back  and  dying  his 
saffron  hands  in  the  playwright's  blood,  for  the 
doubling  of  his  bounty." 

"  'Tis  well,  Pulsifer.  I  will  place  the  amount  in 
your  hands,  and  you  may  secretly  deliver  it  to  him 
in  the  scullery.  But  have  him  closely  guarded  until 
he  is  placed  upon  the  barge.  He  may  fall  victim  to 
a  craving  for  the  wine-cup,  and  expend  a  portion  of 
his  wealth  in  wild  carousing,  and  thus  undo  our 
hopes." 

"You  may  trust  me,  Sir  Thomas.  I  am  indeed 
a  silly  fool  before  the  court,  but  it  takes  a  wise  man 
to  pull  the  wool  over  their  eyes,  and  they  suspect 
me  not.  Get  me  the  purse,  my  Lord,  that  I  may  keep 
my  tryst  in  the  kitchen  betimes." 


124  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  jester  slid  down  from  the  throne,  and  Hatton 
thought  a  moment  before  replying: 

"Wait  here,  Pulsifer,"  he  said,  "and  I  will  hasten 
by  the  private  stairway  to  the  vaults  of  the  royal 
cofferer.  He  will  not  question  my  order  for  the 
funds,  and  I  will  return  forthwith." 

He  quickly  mounted  the  dais  and  stepped  to 
Roger's  hiding-place,  laying  his  hand  upon  the  arras 
to  draw  it  aside. 

Covert's  heart  leapt  into  his  throat  and  he  clutched 
the  hilt  of  his  sword,  determined  to  slay  the  Chan 
cellor  and  his  jester  too,  for  he  knew  that  discovery 
would  mean  his  quick  and  certain  death  if  Hatton 
was  spared  breath  enough  to  give  an  order. 

As  the  folds  wrinkled  in  Sir  Thomas's  hand 
Roger  straightened  himself  to  deliver  the  fatal  blow, 
but  a  sudden  interruption  came  from  the  jester. 
"My  Lord/'  he  whispered,  "  'twould  be  safer  to 
take  the  longer  way.  You  might  meet  some  secret 
messenger  of  the  Queen  upon  the  stairway,  and 
'twould  attract  suspicion,  as  you  are  known  to  be 
directing  the  arrangements  on  the  river." 

"True,  true,  Pulsifer,"  said  Sir  Thomas,  dropping 
the  arras;  "in  sooth,  you  are  no  fool.  I  will  go 
boldly  through  the  castle,  where  none  dare  question 
me,  and  you  may  wait  in  my  apartment  for  the 
purse." 

He  left  the  dais,  and  accompanied  by  Kyd,  pro 
ceeded  across  the  floor  and  out  of  the  doorway, 
while  Roger  Covert  heaved  a  mighty  sigh  of  relief. 

"Whew,  but  it  was  a  close  shave!"  he  muttered; 
and  after  waiting  a  sufficient  interval  to  avoid  all 
chance  of  being  seen  by  the  villains,  he  left  his 


The  Chancellor  and  the  Fool  125 

hiding-place  and  quickly  quitted  the  scene  of  the 
foul  conspiracy.  He  hurried  to  Will  Shakespeare's 
rooms  and  was  lucky  enough  to  find  him  in.  Will 
looked  up  in  wonderment  at  his  troubled  visage. 

Forgetting  all  respect  he  threw  himself  on  a  seat 
by  the  window,  saying: 

"O  Master  Shakespeare,  I  can  now  somewhat 
repay  you  for  the  kindness  you  did  a  poor  varlet 
when  you  carried  him  home  and  healed  his  wounds, 
full  many  months  ago !" 

"What  do  you  mean,  Roger?  Twas  nothing, 
and  'twas  trebly  repaid  the  day  you  saved  Earl  Dud 
ley  on  the  highway." 

"Nay,  but  this  is  a  serious  matter,  master.  I  over 
heard  a  plot  between  the  Queen's  Lord  Chancellor 
and  her  fool  to  have  you  killed  during  the  entertain 
ment  on  the  Thames  to-night." 

Shakespeare  paled,  and  he  eyed  the  guardsman, 
wondering  if  he  had  become  suddenly  bereft  of  his 
sense. 

"Tis  God's  truth,"  said  Roger;  and  he  related 
from  beginning  to  end  the  details  of  the  dastardly 
scheme. 

"Now,  my  master,"  he  said,  "if  you  will  seek 
Mistress  Hathaway  and  tell  her  all,  she  may  quickly 
place  the  Queen  in  possession  of  the  facts,  and 
their  plans  will  be  thwarted,  and  my  Lord  Hatton 
may  find  a  clear  path  to.  the  headsman's  block,  while 
you  may  be  free  to  woo  Mistress  Anne." 

Shakespeare's  form  stiffened  at  this  phase  of  the 
case,  and  he  shortly  made  answer : 

"Nay,  Roger,  I  refuse  to  take  such  base  advan 
tage.  There  must  be  another  way  to  escape  their 
treachery." 


126  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"The  time  is  too  short.  All  the  nobles,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Queen's  escort,  have  already 
left  the  castle." 

"Then,  Roger,  I  command  you  to  seal  your  lips. 
We  will  attend  the  festival  as  though  nothing  had 
happened,  and  take  our  allotted  places  on  the  barge. 
Forewarned  will  be  forearmed,  and  as  we  know  the 
moment  of  his  intended  treachery,  we  may  easily 
avoid  his  hand." 

"Nay,  Master  Will,  you  will  be  slain.  What 
chance  have  you  against  this  Spanish  desperado, 
with  knife  in  hand,  intent  upon  your  life?  You  will 
be  in  the  midst  of  a  bevy  of  panic-stricken  women 
who  will  hamper  your  movements,  and  he  may 
strike  you  down  and  make  his  escape  ere  any  of 
the  royal  guards  can  reach  your  side.  I  beseech  you, 
let  me  carry  this  message  to  Mistress  Hathaway 
myself." 

"Roger,  you  know  me  well  enough  to  abide  by 
my  command  when  once  'tis  given.  I  assure  you 
I  will  be  alert,  and  something  tells  me  I  am  to  be 
reserved  for  a  better  fate.  As  the  hour  of  the  enter 
tainment  is  drawing  near,  I  beg  that  you  will  break 
your  fast,  and  then  attend  me,  that  I  may  be  quickly 
garbed  for  my  departure  to  the  royal  barge." 

"I  have  no  mind  for  eating,  Master  Will,"  said 
Roger.  "I  am  sore  afraid  that  I  will  lose  you,  and 
I  must  contrive  in  some  way  to  be  near  at  hand." 

Shakespeare  insisted,  however,  and  he  gloomily 
left  the  room. 

Will  sat  in  his  chair,  musing  over  the  warning 
of  the  faithful  guardsman,  and  planning  how  to 
avoid  the  dagger  of  the  assassin. 


The  Chancellor  and  the  Fool  127 

In  a  few  moments  he  heard  heavy  footsteps  in 
the  passage,  and  Roger  entered,  bearing  a  bundle 
wrapped  in  his  soldier's  cloak. 

He  kneeled  on  the  floor  and  proceeded  to  unroll 
the  garment. 

"Have  you  dined  so  quickly?"  asked  Shakes 
peare. 

"Nay,  master,  I  have  been  better  employed,"  he 
said,  as  he  shook  out  the  folds  of  the  cloak.  "Here 
is  a  steel  shirt  of  mail  that  I  found  in  the  armory, 
and  which  I  spirited  away.  I  pray  you,  let  me  array 
you  in  this  good  armor.  'Twill  never  be  suspected 
'neath  your  jerkin,  and  your  serving-man  will  wit 
ness  your  play  with  calmer  nerves.  Perhaps  a  Span 
ish  knife  may  dull  its  flashing  point  to-night." 

Will  laughingly  arose,  and  his  faithful  squire 
assisted  him  to  dress,  putting  on  the  mailed  shirt, 
which  fitted  him  closely,  and  carefully  concealing 
its  gleaming  links  'neath  the  folds  of  his  velvet 
blouse  and  heavy  cloak. 


CHAPTER  X 
A  STRANGE  FISH  IN  THE  THAMES 

In  a  dingy  little  shop  in  Prince's  Lane,  close  to  the 
rear  wall  of  the  Blackfriar's  Playhouse,  a  venerable 
Jew  was  diligently  dusting-  his  wares  and  queru 
lously  muttering  to  himself. 

"By  the  beard  of  Moses !  never  in  my  memory  was 
there  such  a  season.  Here  I  lay  me  in  such  fine 
masks,  such  expensive  robes,  such  glittering  cos 
tumes,  and  I  think  me  that  the  great  noblemen  will 
crowd  my  shop  in  their  eagerness  to  purchase  my 
disguises,  but  it  is  already  the  eve  of  the  festival, 
and  not  one  of  all  the  court  has  come  to  visit  me. 
Except  a  few  papier-mache  heads  for  the  play-actors 
I  have  sold  nothing,  absolutely  nothing. 

"In  other  years  my  little  room  was  filled  at  this 
hour  with  bartering  courtiers,  who  hesitated  not  to 
pay  my  price  for  these  odd  conceits.  Mayhap  they've 
changed  the  vogue  and  do  not  masque  as  formerly. 
Do  they  become  straight-laced  and  give  up  their  pur 
suit  of  the  coy  damsels  of  the  court,  and  direct  their 
sober  attention  to  the  performance  on  the  stage? 

"Ach !  I  lose  me  much  moneys.  My  profits  of  two 
seasons  I  expend,  and  I  think  me  I  will  get  rich 
quick,  but  I  am  fooled,  fooled,  fooled!  O  Abra 
ham,  your  gray  head  has  lost  its  cunning.  I  grow 
old,  and  keep  not  up  with  the  changing  times." 


A  Strange  Fish  in  the  Thames  129 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  sound  of  galloping 
hoofs  in  the  distance,  and  hobbling  up  to  the  door, 
was  just  in  time  to  see  a  horseman  dash  furiously 
into  the  lane  and  make  directly  for  his  door. 

The  rider,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  Queen's  guard, 
reined  his  steed  up  with  a  jerk,  and  leaping  off  his 
back  strode  into  the  shop,  the  Jew  bowing  and  cring 
ing  servilely  before  him. 

"Ah,  my  fine  gentleman,"  he  said,  "vat  can  I  do 
for  you  ?  Shall  I  show  you  a  domino  or  a  disguise 
for  the  festival  to-night?  Surely  a  noble  lord  like 
yourself  will  wish  to  buy  something  handsome  to  be 
guile  the  pretty  damsels,  eh  ?" 

"Enough  of  your  flattery,  old  crook-nose.  You 
know  as  well  as  I  do  that  I  am  nothing  but  a  common 
guardsman.  You  need  not  try  to  wheedle  me  out  of 
my  purse  by  use  of  your  high-sounding  titles." 

"Veil,"  said  the  Jew,  his  countenance  falling  a  lit 
tle,  "I  have  cheap  masks,  too,  if  you  will  deign  to 
look  at  them." 

"Trot  out  your  stock,  Abraham.  I  have  ridden 
hard  from  Windsor  Castle,  and  I  must  be  at  my  sta 
tion  on  the  river  ere  the  last  act  of  Shakespeare's 
play.  I  keep  tryst  with  a  maiden,  and  I  am  like  to 
lose  her  love  if  I  appear  not  at  the  appointed  time. 
The  carnival  is  to  be  held  on  the  water  after  the 
show.  Hast  anything  appropriate  to  mask  me  for  its 
merry  crew,  and  to  give  me  a  pleasing  aspect  in  the 
eyes  of  my  maid  ?" 

"Ah,  yes,  your  lordship,"  said  the  wily  Jew,  pull 
ing  out  some  shopworn  figures.  "See.  I  have  here 
such  a  fine  frog,  and  here  a  lizard,  and  here  a  snake, 
any  one  of  them  suitable  to  appear  on  the  barges; 


130  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

and  if  in  the  merry-making  they  should  fall  into  the 
water  their  skin  coverings  will  dry  quickly  and  they 
will  not  be  spoiled." 

"Good,"  muttered  the  guardsman,  under  his 
breath. 

"See.  You  put  them  on  over  the  head,  so ;  and  put 
the  arms  into  the  reptile's  legs,  so.  By  the  beard  of 
the  Prophet!  'tis  as  natural  as  life.  'Tis  just  what 
you  want,  noble  captain." 

"Hold  a  bit,  old  skinflint,  and  captain  me  not. 
Dost  think  to  pass  off  your  bruised  and  battered  and 
ill-fitting  head-pieces  on  a  royal  guardsman  ?  Bring 
forth  something  worth  my  while,  or  I  will  lay  the 
flat  of  my  sword  on  your  bony  shoulders  ere  I  take 
my  leave." 

"Ah,  you  would  not  be  so  cruel,  young  master. 
But  stay.  I  think  me  of  two  figures  which  I  did  but 
yesterday  buy  at  heavy  cost,  but  which  I  sell  you 
cheap.  You  are  such  a  pleasing  gentleman,  and 
either  one  would  become  you  much,  and  make  your 
lady  the  envy  of  all  the  maskers." 

So  saying,  he  went  to  the  rear  of  the  shop  and  re 
turned  with  two  enormous  bundles,  which  he  unroll 
ed,  and  displayed  to  the  guardsman  two  monster 
fishes'  heads,  one  green  and  one  gold,  with  rolling 
eyes  and  fins  attached  to  conceal  the  arms  of  the 
wearer,  and  tight-fitting  elastic  cloth,  matching  in 
color,  to  pull  down  as  far  as  the  doublet  of  the 
masker.  The  soldier's  eyes  sparkled  at  sight  of  them, 
which  did  not  escape  the  notice  of  the  Jew. 

"See,"  he  said,  holding  one  up.  "They  are  as  light 
as  feathers."  He  drew  the  mask  over  the  guards 
man's  head,  and  fitted  his  arms  into  the  fins,  the 


A  Strange  Fish  in  the  Thames  131 

hands  passing  through  an  ingenious  contrivance  on 
the  under  side  which  gave  them  perfect  freedom  of 
action  without  their  being  seen.  He  then  led  him  to 
a  dingy  mirror  and  descanted  on  the  beauties  of  the 
monster. 

"Oh  such  a  fine  figure!  See  the  eye-holes  in  the 
throat  where  you  can  look  out,  and  the  opening 
through  which  you  can  breathe.  Why,  'tis  made  so, 
if  the  masker  wishes,  he  may  enter  the  water,  and 
breathing  through  a  reed  which  passes  upward  to  the 
fish's  nose,  he  may  disport  himself  as  a  monster  of 
the  deep,  and  greatly  mystify  the  startled  beholders." 

The  guardsman  drew  off  the  green  head,  and 
holding  it  in  his  hands  addressed  the  Jew : 

"Name  your  price,  Abraham." 

"Well,  I  paid  me  five  and  twenty  pounds,  but  I 
was  disappointed  in  their  sale,  and  as  the  hour  for 
the  festival  draws  close,  it  shall  be  yours  for  twenty, 
no  more,  no  less." 

"Twenty  devils,  old  Israelite !  Dost  think  I  am  a 
fool?  I'd  best  mount  my  horse  and  hie  me  to  the 
carnival  unmasked";  and  the  soldier  turned  on  his 
heel. 

"Stay,  master,"  said  the  Jew,  "I  had  my  mind 
upon  the  wrong  fish.  'Twas  the  gold  one  that  was 
twenty  pounds,  the  coloring  costs  much  more.  You 
shall  have  the  green  one  for  ten,  and  I  lose  me  half 
the  cost." 

"I'll  give  you  five  pounds  for  the  head.  Come 
now,  Jew,  is  it  a  bargain  ?" 

"Seven  pounds,  or  I  wrap  them  up,"  said  Abra 
ham,  stooping  to  draw  the  coverings  over  the  masks. 


132  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"By  the  Gods !"  threatened  the  impatient  guards 
man,  "you'll  change  me  the  monster  for  my  five 
pounds,  or  I  will  take  it  from  you  by  force  and  gag 
you  with  my  sword  belt  and  bind  your  skinny  claws 
with  my  stirrup-leather.  Besides,  'tis  all  I  have,  and 
low  sale  is  better  than  no  sale.  'Tis  your  last  chance. 
Speak,  ere  I  pull  your  musty  robe  over  your  ancient 
pate." 

Abraham  held  up  his  hands  in  mock  horror. 
"Shades  of  my  forefathers!"  said  he,  "I  disgrace 
their  memory.  But  you  are  not  to  be  resisted,  gen 
tle  master.  The  fish  is  yours.  I  shall  bind  it  with 
stout  cord  that  you  may  carry  it  safely  to  the  river." 

The  exchange  was  made  quickly,  and  as  the  sol 
dier  spurred  away  furiously  with  the  bundle  fastened 
to  the  saddle  behind  him,  the  Jew  rubbed  his  hands 
and  emitted  a  happy  chuckle. 

"Not  so  bad,  not  so  bad,"  he  muttered.  "It  profits 
me  four  pounds  clear.  'Tis  a  balm  to  my  disap 
pointment  and  an  incense  that  will  make  my  sleep 
peaceful  to-night." 

The  guardsman  galloped  through  the  dark  and 
narrow  streets  with  little  thought  of  mercy  for  his 
faithful  steed,  whose  heavy  breathing  indicated  that 
he  had  already  traveled  far  and  fast.  At  last  they 
entered  the  road  that  stretched  along  the  bank  of  the 
Thames,  extending  far  southwest  toward  the  castle. 
The  moon  was  peeping  over  the  gently  waving  tree- 
tops  and  the  river  reflected  its  soft  radiance  and 
served  to  light  up  the  deserted  highway. 

With  a  murmur  of  thankfulness  for  the  dissipa 
tion  of  the  darkness,  and  a  muttered  prayer  that  he 
might  be  in  time,  the  guardsman  leaned  far  over  his 


A  Strange  Fish  in  the  Thames  133 

horse's  neck,  sparing  him  not,  but  spurring  him  on 
and  on,  until  at  last  the  dark  walls  of  the  castle 
loomed  up  in  the  distance.  He  entered  the  barracks 
gate  and  turned  his  jaded  steed  loose  in  the  yard. 
The  animal,  with  unerring  instinct,  sought  the  open 
stable  and  the  company  of  his  tethered  mates,  while 
his  rider  threw  his  saddle  on  a  pile  of  trappings,  and 
clasping  his  precious  bundle  in  his  arms  hastened  to 
the  river,  seeking  a  secluded  spot  on  the  bank  at  a 
little  distance  above  the  scene  of  the  festival. 

He  drew  a  small  canoe  from  its  hiding-place  in  the 
thick  foliage,  and  casting  his  burden  into  the  boat 
took  his  seat  in  the  stern  and  swiftly  paddled  out 
into  the  murky  stream.  He  rested  on  his  oars  at  a 
point  where  the  tall  trees  cast  a  deep  shadow  on  the 
water  and  which  was  some  three  hundred  yards 
above  the  royal  barge.  He  could  hear  the  sounds  of 
merry  laughter  and  could  see  the  actors  on  the  stage, 
though  he  could  not  distinguish  their  voices.  He 
judged  that  the  performance  was  drawing  near  its 
close,  and  hastily  seized  the  stone  which  was  used 
as  an  anchor,  swiftly  paying  out  the  restraining  rope 
until  its  slack  denoted  that  the  bottom  was  reached. 

As  the  boat  swayed  with  the  tide  he  unwrapped 
his  bundle  and  pulled  off  his  jack-boots  and  his 
jerkin  and  doublet.  Throwing  them  in  the  bottom 
of  the  canoe  he  fitted  the  fish's  head  upon  his  should 
ers,  drew  the  elastic  cloth  closely  around  his  waist, 
adjusted  the  fins  so  that  he  might  have  the  freedom 
of  his  arms,  and  assuring  himself  that  his  dagger 
was  in  his  belt,  he  closed  his  teeth  upon  the  air-ad 
mitting  reed  and  dropped  quietly  into  the  water, 


134  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

swimming  with  swift  but  silent  strokes  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  Queen's  float. 

After  Roger  Covert  had  assisted  Will  Shakes 
peare  to  robe  himself  for  the  festival  he  hastily  left 
the  room  and  disappeared  in  the  courtyard,  much  to 
his  master's  wonderment,  who  finally  decided  that  he 
had  departed  thus  abruptly  to  stay  the  pangs  of  hun 
ger  caused  by  his  long  vigil  on  the  float. 

Will  proceeded  to  the  landing  and  joined  the 
Queen's  suite,  and  ere  long  the  oarsmen  transported 
them  to  the  barge.  The  royal  train  was  seated 
according  to  Sir  Thomas  Hatton's  plan,  and  its 
members  were  soon  busily  discussing  the  wonders 
of  the  festive  scene  and  expressing  their  anticipa 
tion  of  the  delights  of  the  play. 

Shakespeare  was  much  envied  by  the  noble  gal 
lants,  for  he  sat  close  to  a  bevy  of  the  Queen's 
ladies,  who  conversed  eagerly  with  him,  questioning 
him  about  the  performance  and  slyly  plaguing  him 
for  his  modesty.  Anne  Hathaway  was  in  an  ex 
tremely  gracious  mood.  She  forbore  to  enter  into 
the  other  maidens'  jests,  but  spoke  frequently  to  him, 
calling  his  attention  to  the  beauties  of  the  many 
floats  and  the  thousands  of  sparkling  lights  that  dot 
ted  the  river  and  its  banks. 

The  Queen  noticed  the  attention  her  hand-maiden 
was  bestowing  upon  the  poet  and  she  turned  her 
sharp  eyes  toward  Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  scanning  him 
closely  for  a  sign  of  disapproval ;  but  for  once  in  his 
life  his  brow  had  lost  its  scowl  and  he  was  smiling 
blandly,  apparently  oblivious  of  Anne's  presence  on 
the  float.  The  Queen  was  puzzled,  but  soon  forgot 


A  Strange  Fish  in  the  Thames  135 

the  twain  and  entered  into  an  animated  discussion 
with  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  who  was  seated  at  her  left 
hand.  The  King  of  Spain  occupied  his  usual  station 
on  her  right,  and  sat  moodily  biting  his  lips  and 
gnawing  his  beard,  apparently  unnoticed  by  the  other 
members  of  Her  Majesty's  suite. 

The  rise  of  the  curtain  was  long  delayed,  and  at 
last  a  silence  fell  upon  the  occupants  of  the  barge  and 
they  awaited  eagerly  the  opening  of  the  play.  The 
jester,  seated  on  the  step  at  Leicester's  feet,  began 
mouthing  and  grimacing  to  draw  attention  to  him 
self,  and  soon  raised  his  uncanny  voice  and  hummed 
a  weird  tune. 

Elizabeth  clutched  Leicester's  arm  as  she  listened 
to  his  strange  refrain,  and  the  courtiers  ceased  their 
whisperings  and  attended  with  straining  ears.  The 
fool's  voice  sang  louder  and  louder,  and  this  much 
of  his  tune  was  audible  to  the  Queen : 


"A  humorous  wight  I  know, 

And  one  you  much  despise ; 
'Tis  said  that  he 
All  royalty 

Most  openly  decries. 

His  occupation  odd 
Is  tasting  queenly  fare. 

If  poison  lies 

Within  the  pies, 
He  quickly  dies,  so  there. 

Your  Majesty  is  safe; 

But  count  him  not  a  fool, 
He  keeps  a  cat 
To  nibble  at 

The  viands  fat,  a  rule 


136  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

That  augurs  very  well 

For  his  life  and  full  years ; 
And  thus  you  see 
He  tastes  boldly, 

His  stomach  free  from  fears. 

The  danger  does  not  lie 

At  this  cute  yarlet's  door, 
But  in  your  suite 
Is  found  the  root 

Of  intrigue's  fruit  galore. 

Your  Majesty,  I  pray, 

'Gainst  treachery  take  pains, 

And  count  above 

Pretended  love 
The  poison  of  men's  brains." 

He  ceased  and  blinked  his  little  eyes,  swaying-  his 
body  back  and  forth,  and  looking  at  the  courtiers  in 
expectation  of  applause,  until  his  glance  fell  upon 
my  Lord  Hatton's  face,  which  wore  an  ominous 
frown,  at  whidi  he  quickly  subsided  and  sat  motion 
less  at  Dudley's  feet.  The  Queen  looked  at  him  with 
an  expression  of  anger. 

"Who  has  been  putting  you  up  to  this,  fool?"  she 
questioned.  Surely  some  rhymester  has  been  drum 
ming  this  warning,  if  warning  it  be,  into  your  shal 
low  memory." 

"Nay,  your  Majesty,"  answered  the  jester,  "  'twas 
writ  for  me  by  a  little  fellow  whom  I  have  known 
since  birth,  though  he  has  ever  been  the  inmate  of  a 
narrow  prison  cell.  And  he  is  much  my  friend, 
though  I  have  never  set  eyes  upon  him." 

"You,  mystify  us,  Kyd,  by  your  mouthings.  Un 
riddle  us  this  fancy  of  your  crooked  brain." 


A  Strange  Fish  in  the  Thames  137 

"  'Tis  the  same  tiny  prisoner  to  whom  I  do  refer, 
your  Majesty,  that  misshapen  brain  of  mine.  The 
words  are  his  own  and  his  prison  is  my  bony  skull. 
What  think  you  of  the  simile,  your  Majesty?" 

The  Queen  laughed  heartily  and,  turning  to  Lei 
cester,  said : 

"This  only  goes  to  show  how  crazed  the  varlet  is, 
my  Lord,  though  in  truth  his  strange  conceit  does 
deserve  some  attention.  He  amuses  me  much  at 
times  and  is  a  welcome  addition  to  the  court." 

"Mayhap  he  is  not  so  much  of  a  fool  as  he  looks," 
answered  Dudley,  who  had  been  closely  scrutinizing 
Pulsifer's  stupid  features. 

The  jester's  sharp  ears  overheard  his  reply,  and 
he  stuck  out  his  tongue  drolly  and  wriggled  his  ears 
until  the  Queen  chuckled  in  delight. 

"Nonsense,  Leicester,"  said  she,  "he  is  an  absolute 
idiot.  Didst  ever  see  such  a  mask?  If  he  but  had 
his  senses  he  would  be  a  valuable  addition  to  Master 
Shakespeare's  company  of  players.  There's  never  a 
gnome  nor  a  sprite  in  the  whole  band  with  so  un 
couth  a  figure.  But  the  performance  is  much  delay 
ed.  Let  a  trumpet  be  sounded  to  signify  our  impa 
tience." 

Leicester  summoned  a  herald  to  his  side  and  gave 
him  a  whispered  command.  The  man  stood  apart 
and  blew  three  long  blasts  on  his  horn,  and  the  cur 
tain  of  the  stage  was  quickly  pulled  aside  and  a  head 
was  thrust  out.  The  blasts  were  repeated  and  the 
head  was  suddenly  withdrawn,  and  at  the  end  of  a 
very  brief  interval  the  curtain  was  raised  and  the 
performance  began. 


138  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Like  Shakespeare's  first  comedy  it  immediately 
caught  the  attention  of  the  audience,  and  his  success 
was  more  than  duplicated,  the  smiling  faces  and  the 
glances  of  envy  that  were  turned  in  his  direction 
affording  ample  proof  of  his  rise  to  fame. 

The  sun  shines  on  us  in  our  prosperity,  but  let  our 
popularity  once  wane  and  e'en  the  cold  rays  of  the 
lesser  lights  are  turned  away,  and  we  are  compelled 
to  seek  comfort  in  the  warm  bed  of  our  memory. 

A  motionless  attendant,  dressed  in  the  attire  of  a 
page,  stood  near  the  bevy  of  maids  of  honour  and  di 
rectly  behind  Shakespeare's  seat.  His  dark  face  con 
trasted  strangely  with  his  gorgeous  doublet  and  hose, 
but  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  had  advised  dressing  Fer 
nando  in  this  garb  and  stationing  him  on  the  barge 
as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  Spanish  King. 

As  the  play  progressed  the  Lord  Chancellor 
watched  him  narrowly,  and  a  meaning  flash  from  the 
villain's  eyes  assured  him  that  he  would  act  his  part. 

The  last  scene  of  the  play  was  coming  to  a  close 
when  a  queer-looking  snout  was  thrust  out  of  the 
water  near  the  corner  of  the  barge  and  directly  be 
neath  Cordes's  station.  It  was  all  unobserved  by  the 
occupants  of  the  float,  so  enthralled  were  they  in  the 
wonderful  play. 

As  the  final  tableau  was  being  formed  the  Span 
iard  drew  his  knife,  and  raising  it  on  high  struck 
Shakespeare  a  terrific  blow  beneath  the  shoulder; 
but  as  the  two  broken  pieces  of  his  dagger  fell  to  the 
floor  of  the  barge  and  bounded  off  into  the  dark 
river,  he  felt  himself  clutched  round  the  ankles  in  an 
iron  grasp,  and  as  he  fell  into  the  water  with  a 


A  Strange  Fish  in  the  Thames  139 

mighty  splash  he  gave  vent  to  a  piercing  scream  that 
filled  the  souls  of  all  on  board  with  terror.  They 
turned  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  their  fright,  but  the 
Spaniard  had  disappeared,  the  river  was  still,  and 
Shakespeare  said  nothing  to  enlighten  them. 

Suddenly  Anne  Hathaway,  who  had  arisen  in  her 
alarm,  and  was  standing  by  her  chair,  screamed  ex 
citedly  and  pointed  down  the  stream : 

"Look !  Look !  A  monster  fish !  And  as  the  Queen 
and  courtiers  turned  their  eyes  to  where  she  gazed 
they  saw  the  scaly  head  of  a  terrible  denizen  of  the 
deep  rise  far  out  of  the  water,  its  red  jaws  and  roll 
ing  eyes,  causing  their  hearts  to  become  sick  with 
fear,  and  they  caught  a  glimpse  of  Fernando's  limp 
form  in  its  clutches,  and  saw  the  red  blood  streaming 
from  his  pallid  throat. 

As  they  stared  in  horror  the  fish  slowly  sank  be 
neath  the  waves  and  they  never  saw  the  monster  or 
his  victim  more. 

Of  all  on  the  royal  barge  Sir  Thomas  Hatton 
seemed  the  most  affected,  and  even  the  Queen  rallied 
him  on  his  state  of  collapse.  He  answered  not,  but 
entered  the  first  of  the  boats  that  carried  the  royal 
party  to  the  shore,  and  hastily  made  his  way  to  his 
own  apartment  in  the  castle. 

Some  three  hundred  yards  up  the  stream,  in  a  boat 
under  the  shadow  of  a  tree,  a  royal  guardsman  drew 
the  papier-mache  head  of  an  enormous  green  fish 
over  the  shoulders  of  a  dead  Spaniard,  then  taking 
the  heavy  stone  that  served  as  an  anchor,  he  fastened 
it  securely  to  the  body,  winding  the  rope  tightly 
around  the  stiffening  corpse,  and  lifted  anchor, 


140  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

mask,  and  man  over  the  rail,  silently  watched  the 
ripples  that  closed  forever  above  the  villain's  form. 

He  then  turned  and  counted  some  gold  coins 
which  he  had  taken  from  his  victim,  and  as  he 
dropped  them  in  his  pouch  he  chuckled  heartily  in 
his  glee. 

"  Tis  more  money  than  I  ever  possessed  in  all 
my  life  before.  Roger  Covert  is  richer  by  one 
hundred  pounds  for  this  night's  work,"  he  said. 
Then  drawing  on  his  jack-boots  and  jerkin,  he  lifted 
his  oars  and  silently  rowed  away. 


CHAPTER  XI 
AT  THE  WHIPPING  POST 

A  feeble  ray  of  the  early  morning  sun  shone  on  a 
deserted  corner  of  the  courtyard  which  was  piled 
high  with  rubbish  and  cast-off  equipments  of  the 
Queen's  soldiers  and  servants.  The  adjacent  por 
tion  of  the  castle  had  long  ago  fallen  into  disuse  and 
the  queer  structure  that  stood  in  the  court  opposite 
the  face  of  a  frowning  bastion  was  a  relic  of  the  time 
of  King  Henry  the  Eighth.  'Twas  a  heavy  post 
with  a  cross-piece  at  the  height  of  a  man's  shoulders, 
and  'twas  here  that  Bluff  King  Hal  witnessed  the 
punishment  of  many  of  his  offending  varlets  and 
mayhap  of  some  of  his  inoffensive  wives,  though 
history  does  not  enlighten  us  on  that  score.  Eliza 
beth  was  of  more  tender  heart  than  her  royal  father, 
and  frowned  down  the  use  of  the  whipping-post 
except  on  rare  occasions  when  the  extremity  of  the 
offense  warranted  the  lash. 

Several  years  had  elapsed  since  a  culprit  had  been 
flogged  in  the  courtyard,  and  as  Her  Majesty 
loathed  the  sight  of  the  cruel  instrument  of  torture, 
spreading  its  arms  as  if  in  mockery  of  the  cross 
whose  form  it  bore,  the  corner  had  been  walled  in, 
though  a  door,  which  was  never  locked,  had  been 
fixed  in  the  wall.  A  general  superstition  pervaded 
the  castle  that  the  ghosts  of  many  of  King  Henry's 


142  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

victims  haunted  this  scene  of  their  punishment,  and 
in  consequence  the  place  was  seldom  visited  except 
in  broad  daylight  when  the  servants  came  at  weekly 
intervals  to  dispose  of  the  sweepings  and  the  refuse 
of  the  kitchen. 

The  palace  was  cloaked  in  silence,  and  the  royal 
suite,  in  consequence  of  their  attendance  at  the 
Queen's  festival  the  night  before,  were  deep  in 
slumber  and  high  noon  was  more  than  likely  to  find 
them  in  their  downy  beds. 

Suddenly  two  guardsmen  appeared  around  an 
angle  of  the  wall  and  made  for  the  door  of  the 
deserted  court.  They  dragged  between  them  a  limp 
and  pitiful  figure  who  was  cringing  and  moaning 
in  vain  appeals  for  mercy.  Directly  behind  them 
followed  the  Lord  Chancellor.  His  noble  figure  had 
somewhat  lost  its  grace,  and  the  dark  rings  that 
encircled  his  heavy  eyes  indicated  that  he  had  passed 
a  sleepless  night.  In  one  hand  he  bore  a  heavy  whip 
whose  knotted  cords  of  many  cruel  strands  formed 
a  fiendish  implement  of  torture. 

The  party  entered  the  door  in  the  wall  and  Sir 
Thomas  turned  and  closed  it  after  him.  Then  at 
his  orders  the  guardsmen  tore  off  the  victim's  jerkin, 
and  baring  his  shoulders,  lashed  his  arms  to  the 
cross-piece  of  the  post.  When  he  had  been  securely 
fastened  the  Chancellor  ordered  them  to  stand  apart 
that  he  might  speak  privately  with  the  trembling 
wretch.  The  soldiers  withdrew  behind  the  bastion, 
and  the  jester,  for  the  man  at  the  post  was  none 
other  than  the  poor  fool,  whimpered  afresh  and 
renewed  his  plea  for  mercy. 


At  the  Whipping  Post  143 

My  Lord  Hatton  laughed  harshly  at  his  cries. 

"Kyd,"  said  he,  "didst  ever  know  me  to  brook  a 
failure  or  to  fail  to  reward  success?  You  made 
a  most  pitiful  mess  of  our  plans  last  night,  and  have 
caused  me  to  walk  the  floor  in  an  agony  of  sleep 
lessness  these  many  hours.  You'll  suffer  dearly  for 
your  bungling." 

"Master,  master/'  begged  the  fool,  "I've  served 
you  faithfully;  I've  spied  out  the  secrets  of  the  court 
and  carried  them  to  your  eager  ears,  and  in  this 
matter  of  the  Spaniard  'twas  all  arranged  without 
a  hitch.  I  met  him  in  the  scullery  and  gave  him  the 
hundred  pounds,  and  'tis  not  my  fault  that  Provi 
dence  interfered  and  that  he  was  prevented  from 
carrying  out  the  plot." 

"Nevertheless,  'twill  not  prevent  your  being 
soundly  whipped.  I  would  have  flogged  you  at  any 
rate  for  the  failure,  but  now  I  am  convinced  that 
'twas  through  your  babbling  tongue  that  the  con 
spiracy  was  discovered." 

"Why,  master,  'twas  well  arranged,  and  I  swear 
I  oped  my  mouth  to  no  one.  The  awful  fish  seized 
Fernando,  as  all  on  board  the  barge  bore  witness, 
and  surely  you  do  not  hold  me  accountable  for  that." 

"This  fable  of  the  fish  is  well  enough,  for  courtiers 
and  fools.  Had  not  the  eyes  of  the  royal  train  been 
magnified  by  terror  they  might  have  seen  that  'twas 
but  a  mock  monster.  'Tis  but  an  hour  since  that 
a  sweating  horseman  sought  me  privately  in  my 
apartment,  and  ere  the  sun  was  up  gave  me  a  mes 
sage  from  Abraham,  the  Jew  costumer,  in  which 
he  related  the  sale  of  just  such  a  green  fish's  head  in 
the  form  of  a  mask  late  last  night  to  an  unknown 


144  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

soldier  of  Raleigh's  guard.  The  news  of  the  terrible 
occurrence  has  spread  even  through  London,  and  he 
sought  to  curry  favour  by  his  revelation.  'Tis  lucky 
that  he  came  to  me.  I  despatched  an  answer  enjoin 
ing  his  further  silence  under  penalty  of  death,  for 
'twould  never  do  for  me  to  take  any  step  toward 
the  solution  of  the  matter.  T would  serve  to  in 
criminate  me,  and  I  must  now  be  constantly  on  my 
guard  against  the  unknown  sharer  of  our  secret." 

"Master,  I  have  been  as  silent  as  the  grave.  If 
any  one  betrayed  the  plot  'twas  the  Spaniard  him 
self." 

"Nay.  I  am  sure  he  held  communion  with  none. 
I  might  even  have  spared  you  had  it  not  been  for 
the  rendition  of  your  silly  verse  on  the  barge  last 
night.  Why,  it  conveyed  a  subtle  meaning  to  the 
Queen,  and  for  the  first  time  in  her  life  I  am  sure 
she  looked  at  me  with  a  flicker  of  suspicion  in  her 
eyes.  What  devil  out  of  hell  entered  your  head  and 
caused  you  to  sing  your  croaking  tune  at  such  a 
time?" 

"My  Lord,  'twas  only  your  guilty  conscience  that 
accused  you.  'Twas  no  warning  that  I  meant.  I 
was  elated  at  the  success  of  our  plans  and  at  thought 
of  my  reward,  and  the  words  formed  themselves 
unmeaningly  in  my  brain.  There  was  a  lull  before 
the  rise  of  the  curtain  and  in  my  eagerness  to  amuse 
the  Queen  they  popped  out  of  my  mouth  with  never 
a  thought  of  harm  until  I  caught  sight  of  your  for 
bidding  frown.  Had  you  been  innocent  of  evil 
intent  you  would  never  have  noticed  them." 

"What!"  hoarsely  roared  the  Chancellor,  "do  you 
dare  to  mock  me  to  my  very  teeth?  I'll  flog  you 


At  the  Whipping  Post  145 

within  an  inch  of  your  life  for  this";  and  he  called 
to  the  soldiers  to  approach. 

"You'll  rue  the  day,  my  Lord !"  loudly  screamed 
the  fool.  "I'll  publish  your  treachery  throughout 
the  castle  and  expose  your  plot  to  the  Queen  her 
self/' 

Sir  Thomas  laughed. 

"I  think  not,"  said  he.  "Your  long  legs  will 
never  move  you  from  this  narrow  court,  for  what 
life  is  not  flogged  out  of  you  will  be  scorched  out 
of  you  by  the  sun's  rays  or  drowned  out  of  you 
by  the  evening's  damps,  for  you'll  hang  on  this 
pretty  pole  a  week  or  more  ere  some  scullion  of  the 
kitchen  happens  on  your  rotting  carcass.  The  Queen 
will  wonder  what  has  become  of  her  merry  fool,  but 
the  Lord  Chancellor  will  produce  another  and  one 
more  faithful  to  his  generous  master." 

The  jester  screamed  in  his  terror,  but  the  har 
dened  nobleman  handed  the  lash  to  one  of  the 
guardsmen  who  had  answered  his  call,  and  ordered 
him  to  lay  it  on  his  victim's  shoulders  with  all  the 
force  of  his  athletic  arm. 

As  the  cruel  blows  cut  the  fool's  flesh  and  the 
blood  spurted  from  his  wounds  and  covered  his  poor 
back,  his  master  stood  with  a  hard  smile  upon  his 
lips,  and  when  the  soldier's  efforts  began  to  flag  he 
directed  his  comrade  to  continue  with  the  flogging. 
Kyd  howled  lustily  at  first  and  writhed  in  the 
agony  of  his  pain,  but  as  the  whip  continued  to  fall 
he  ceased  his  crying  and  began  to  mutter  prayers 
to  his  Maker  to  receive  his  soul  and  to  punish  his 
tormentor.  He  fully  believed  that  he  had  met  his 
doom  and  prayed  that  he  might  die  under  the  lash 


146  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

rather  than  be  subjected  to  the  torture  of  the  long 
hours  that  would  attend  his  slow  death  of  torment 
and  starvation  if  left  alone  on  the  post. 

At  last  the  merciful  relief  of  unconsciousness 
came  to  him  and  his  limbs  collapsed  and  his  head 
dropped  on  his  shoulder  as  his  senses  left  him. 

Hatton  kept  his  men  at  their  task  until  their  blows 
had  lost  their  force.  Then  he  commanded  their 
silence  under  penalty  of  losing  their  heads,  and  tell 
ing  them  to  see  that  the  fool  was  tightly  bound  to 
the  post,  he  left  them  in  the  court  and  made  his  way 
back  to  the  inhabited  portion  of  the  castle. 

When  he  had  gone,  the  soldiers,  who  still  had 
some  traces  of  feeling,  but  who  had  long  been  tools 
of  the  Chancellor  and  feared  him  more  than  the 
Devil  himself,  looked  at  the  poor  fool's  bleeding 
back  in  pity. 

"He's  almost  gone/'  said  one.  "  Tis  a  great 
shame,  for  he  was  a  comical  wight  and  caused  many 
a  laugh  with  his  huge  ears  and  his  merry  jests." 

"  Tis  so,"  answered  his  companion.  "I  wish  we 
dared  to  cut  him  down.  He  might  have  a  spark  of 
life  left  in  him,  enough  to  carry  him  out  of  the 
courtyard  and  to  some  safe  hiding-place.  But  'tis 
as  much  as  our  lives  are  worth,  poor  devil." 

"By  Gad,  do  you  but  loosen  one  of  his  arms  and 
I'll  undo  the  other,  and  we'll  let  him  drop  upon  the 
ground.  No  doubt  he'll  die  there,  and  at  any  rate 
Sir  Thomas  will  not  hold  us  under  suspicion.  We've 
done  his  dirty  work  too  many  times  before,  and  we 
did  but  now  lay  on  so  lustily  that  he  thought  we 
much  enjoyed  it." 


At  the  Whipping  Post  147 

"  Tis  a  chance  for  the  fool  and  I'll  do  it ;  but  we 
must  stoutly  maintain  that  we  left  him  neatly  triced 
to  the  post,  if  we  are  questioned." 

With  trembling  hands  they  nervously  unloosed 
the  jester's  bonds,  letting  him  slip  downward  to  the 
floor  of  the  yard,  where  he  lay  motionless  upon  his 
face.  One  of  them  seized  the  whip  and  made  his 
way  out  of  the  court,  while  the  other  followed  and 
closed  the  door  after  him.  They  hastened  guiltily 
away,  while  the  rays  of  the  ascending  sun  baked 
the  blood  on  the  back  of  the  unconscious  fool. 

Some  two  hours  after  the  scourging  of  the  jester 
Robert  Devereux  and  Will  Shakespeare  were  walk 
ing  in  the  castle  yard  attended  by  Roger  Covert,  who 
kept  at  a  respectful  distance  in  the  rear. 

"Are  you  in  a  mood  for  exploration  this  morning, 
Will?"  asked  Essex.  "In  all  the  months  of  your 
sojourn  in  the  Queen's  household  you  have  scarce 
poked  your  nose  out  of  doors  save  for  a  brief  stroll 
on  the  terrace.  I  tell  you,  man,  you  must  take  the 
air  more  frequently.  You  have  become  so  feverishly 
engrossed  in  the  construction  of  your  wonderful 
plays  that  your  health  suffers  in  consequence.  Your 
pale  face  and  hollow  eyes  denote  a  scant  acquaint 
ance  with  that  mighty  doctor  of  the  human  race, 
the  glorious  sun. 

"In  sooth,  you  must  join  Southampton  and  my 
self  in  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Mermaid  Inn.  Twill 
do  you  good  and  furnish  an  agreeable  change  of 
occupation  for  your  weary  brain.  In  discussion 
with  the  famous  wits  who  gather  there  we  will 
somewhat  lighten  the  tedium  of  your  drudgery  at 
the  comedies. 


148  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"The  performance  last  night  was  a  great  success, 
but  the  final  act  was  sadly  marred  by  the  fate  of 
the  Spaniard.  'Tis  a  lucky  escape  for  you,  Will. 
He  was  between  your  station  and  the  fish  or  you 
might  have  met  an  awful  death.  You  should  in 
scribe  a  tablet  of  gratitude  to  his  memory." 

Shakespeare  smiled  and  changed  the  subject. 

"You  spoke  of  an  exploring  expedition.  What 
points  of  interest  are  there  near  that  I  have  failed  to 
visit?" 

"Why,  let  me  see.  There  is  Wolsey's  'tomb- 
house,'  though  'tis  like  many  another  gloomy  vault ; 
and  then  there  is  the  famous  whipping-post  of  King 
Henry." 

"Does  the  barbarous  relic  still  exist?  'Twould 
interest  me  much.  I'll  weave  an  incident  of  its  cruel 
reign  in  some  future  play." 

"I've  seen  it  once,  Will,  but  its  exact  direction 
escapes  me  now.  '.Tis  in  a  distant  angle  of  the  court. 
Covert,"  he  said,  turning  to  the  guardsman,  "know 
you  the  location  of  the  whipping-post?" 

"Full  well,  my  Lord,"  answered  Roger.  I'll  guide 
you  thither,  though  'tis  an  unclean  spot,  reeking 
with  the  odors  of  much  filth  and  garbage." 

"Lead  the  way.  We'll  'suage  the  insult  to  our 
nostrils  with  baths  of  scented  water  on  our  return 
to  the  castle." 

They  followed  the  soldier  through  the  devious 
windings  of  the  numerous  small  courts  till  at  last 
they  came  to  the  door  in  the  wall.  As  Roger  laid 
his  hand  upon  the  rusty  knob  a  hollow  groan  issued 
from  the  interior,  and  the  guardsman  fell  back 
a-tremble  with  fear. 


At  the  Whipping  Post  149 

"Lead  on,  Covert,"  commanded  the  dauntless 
Essex.  "What  need  have  three  live  men  to  be  afraid 
of  one  poor  ghost?  And  spirits  do  not  seek  the 
light — 'tis  some  poor  wounded  animal  has  crawled 
in  there  to  die." 

Thus  reassured,  Roger  threw  the  door  wide 
open,  and  they  stood  in  stupefied  astonishment  at 
the  sight  that  met  their  eyes. 

They  saw  the  body  of  a  man  lying  on  his  face 
beneath  the  ancient  post,  his  bared  back  crossed  with 
raw  and  bleeding  stripes,  his  head  twisted  on  his 
shoulder,  to  all  appearances  dead,  though  the  groan 
that  had  welcomed  them  to  the  court  indicated  that 
a  spark  of  life  remained. 

Roger,  his  fears  dissipated  at  the  sight  of  a  human 
being's  plight,  ran  forward  and  turned  him  on  his 
back. 

"Why,  'tis  the  Queen's  fool !"  he  exclaimed. 

Essex  and  Shakespeare  bent  over  the  jester  and 
the  poet  turned  faint  as  he  saw  the  ghastly  features 
of  the  unconscious  man.  His  wits  acted  quickly, 
however,  and  he  was  the  first  to  break  the  silence. 

"Roger,"  he  commanded,  "run  straightway  to 
the  scullery  and  demand  a  flask  of  rum.  Plead  any 
cause  save  the  true  one.  There  is  some  villainy 
afoot  and  we  must  proceed  with  caution." 

Roger  sped  away  as  fast  as  his  legs  could  carry 
him,  while  Essex  and  Shakespeare  seized  each  a 
hand  of  the  fool,  gently  chafing  them  and  watching 
his  face  for  a  sign  of  returning  consciousness.  In  a 
few  moments  Covert  returned  with  the  rum,  saying : 
"I  told  them  Master  Shakespeare  had  wrenched  his 


150  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

ankle,  and  his  name  was  indeed  an  'open  Sesame* 
to  the  liquor  vault,  though  it  was  hard  to  'scape 
their  solicitous  questionings." 

He  forced  open  the  jester's  mouth  and  poured  an 
enormous  draught  of  the  fiery  liquid  down  his 
throat.  A  shudder  ran  through  the  senseless  form, 
and  Pulsifer's  eye-lids  slowly  opened  and  he  stared 
at  his  good  ministrants  in  feeble  wonder. 

"How  came  you  here,  Kyd?"  questioned  Essex. 
"What  dastardly  trick  has  brought  you  to  this  piti 
able  state?" 

The  fool  shook  his  head  and  moaned  faintly. 
Shakespeare  leaned  over  the  poor  wretch,  and  plac 
ing  his  arm  under  his  shoulders,  raised  him  to  a 
sitting  posture,  and  taking  the  flask  from  Covert 
held  it  to  his  grateful  mouth,  all  unmindful  of  the 
blood  and  grime  that  stained  his  own  apparel. 

As  the  reviving  liquid  coursed  through  his  veins 
Hatton's  victim  looked  with  amazement  on  the  gen 
tle  features  of  his  rescuer. 

At  last  he  whispered,  though  his  voice  was  not 
audible  to  Essex's  ears: 

"And  I  would  have  had  you  killed  last  night! 
You  do  punish  me  most  fittingly  for  my  treachery." 

"Hush,  my  poor  fellow,"  said  Will,  "we'll  not 
think  of  that  now.  Let  it  suffice  that  I  was  fore 
warned  and  escaped.  But  we  must  get  you  away 
from  here  and  summon  the  chirurgeon  to  attend 
you." 

"Nay,  nay,  'twould  be  my  death,"  said  the  fool 
in  louder  tone.  "What  faint  hope  of  life  is  left  me 
lies  in  the  security  of  some  private  hiding-place. 
But  waste  not  your  time  on  me,  kind  masters. 


At  the  Whipping  Post  1 51 

Twere  better  that  you  let  me  die.  'Twould  spare 
a  noble  lord  much  pains.  I  will  no  doubt  be  sought 
out,  no  matter  where  you  take  me,  and  my  dis 
covery  will  result  in  my  speedy  execution." 

"Nonsense,  man,"  protested  Essex,  "you'll  find 
we're  made  of  sterner  stuff.  Covert,  have  not  your 
adventures  in  the  court  acquainted  you  with  some 
safe  retreat  where  we  may  bear  this  poor  sick  varlet 
and  nurse  him  back  to  health?" 

Roger  studied  deeply  for  a  moment,  then  snapped 
his  fingers  and  uttered  an  ejaculation  of  delight. 

"The  laundry  is  the  very  place.  'Tis  separate 
from  the  rest  of  the  court  and  'tis  piled  high  and 
hung  thickly  with  soft  linens.  And  besides,  the 
laundress  is  my  lady-love.  We'll  bear  him  thence, 
and  will  she  or  nill  she,  Anne  Holcombe  we'll  com 
pel  to  take  him  in  and  give  him  shelter.  We'll  cur 
tain  off  a  space  with  queenly  sheets  and  on  a  soft 
couch  of  sweet-smelling  clothes,  fresh  from  her 
steaming  tubs,  we'll  lay  our  jester  and  'twill  be  my 
duty  to  attend  him  every  day.  'Twill  be  the  last 
place  they  will  think  to  search,  for  none  but  the 
maids  of  the  royal  household  visit  the  laundry  with 
the  soiled  linen.  And  e'en  my  trips  to  the  domicil 
of  my  love  are  taken  under  cover  of  darkness  or 
only  after  I  have  made  certain  that  no  prying  eyes 
are  fastened  on  my  stealthy  movements." 

"  'Tis  a  clever  thought,  Roger,"  said  Essex. 
"Your  laundress  will  be  rewarded  well,  and  your 
master's  rise  at  court  may  profit  much  by  this  visit 
to  the  whipping-post." 


152  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

They  wrapped  the  jester's  jerkin  round  his  bleed 
ing  shoulders,  and  pulling  some  rotting  boards  from 
out  a  heap  of  rubbish  in  the  yard,  they  formed  a 
rude  litter,  and  soon  the  noble  Earl,  the  gentle  poet, 
and  the  humble  serving-man  bent  their  backs  in 
common  cause,  and  skirting  an  obscure  portion  of 
the  wall,  bore  the  fool's  limp  form  through  the  de 
serted  court-yard  to  the  laundry,  where  Roger  went 
inside  to  explain  their  plan  to  his  mistress. 


CHAPTER  XII 
A  STRANGER  AT  COURT 

Robert  Devereux  and  Will  Shakespeare  lounged 
in  the  poet's  study  and  filled  the  apartment  with  the 
heavy  fumes  of  Virginia  tobacco.  When  the  atmos 
phere  had  become  so  dense  that  they  could  with 
difficulty  distinguish  each  other's  forms,  Will  arose 
and  threw  open  a  window,  saying : 

f  Tis  strange,  Robert,  the  hold  that  this  fashion 
of  smoking  takes  upon  a  man.  Why,  there's  not  a 
courtier  in  the  Queen's  suite  but  does  puff  vigorously 
at  his  long  pipe;  and  they  say  that  even  Her  Majes 
ty  demanded  a  pull  at  the  hot  bowl  of  Raleigh's 
favorite  clay  tube,  and  was  made  pitifully  sick  in 
consequence." 

Essex  laughed  heartily. 

"Elizabeth  has  many  manly  qualities,"  he  said, 
"but  she  will  be  content  to  let  the  sterner  sex  monop 
olize  this  latest  pastime,  and  no  doubt  does  thank  the 
stars  that  she  is  a  woman.  In  truth,  the  weed  made 
me  ill  when  first  I  tried  to  suck  its  soothing  vapor, 
but  now  'tis  like  a  heavenly  balm  to  my  nerves. 
Walter  Raleigh  conferred  a  great  blessing  on  the 
people  of  England  when  he  brought  over  the  dried 
bales  of  the  fragrant  weed." 


154  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"It  does  also  much  pacify  the  stomach  after  a 
heavy  meal,"  said  Shakespeare,  "and  frequently  at 
the  close  of  a  long-  day  of  laborious  writing  I  throw 
aside  my  parchment  and  take  up  my  pipe,  finding 
rest  and  repose  in  its  curling  fumes,  and  through 
my  half-closed  eyes  seeing  in  its  filmy  smoke-clouds 
many  strange  visions  which  I  store  in  the  vaults  of 
my  memory  for  future  use  in  the  production  of  my 
plays." 

"You  will  be  a  mighty  man,  friend  Shakespeare ; 
you  have  attained  wonderful  success  for  one  so 
young.  The  Queen  holds  you  in  high  favour  and  is 
ever  ready  to  enter  into  a  delighted  discussion  of 
your  latest  comedy.  Ah,  you  are  a  lucky  dog.  Half 
the  women  at  court  are  in  love  with  you,  but  you  are 
so  entirely  wrapped  up  in  your  dream-life  that  you 
fail  to  see  it.  I  pray  God,  Will,  that  some  one  of 
them  does  not  turn  your  head  and  spoil  a  brilliant 
career." 

"You  need  have  no  fear,  Essex.  The  one  woman 
in  all  the  world  to  whom  I  could  consign  my  heart  is 
far  beyond  my  reach,  and  would  laugh  at  me  were  I 
but  bold  enough  to  offer  her  my  suit." 

"Do  not  be  so  sure,  Will.  A  sturdy  attack  will 
sometimes  batter  down  the  citadel  of  the  hardest 
heart,  and  ofttimes  a  persistent  arm  is  so  stretched 
in  the  reaching  that  at  last  it  grasps  the  highest  plum 
upon  the  tree  of  love.  Overcome  your  modesty  and 
strike  boldly  for  your  maid." 

"Nay,  nay,  Robert,  her  heart  is  in  another's  keep 
ing,  though  I  am  sure  he  ill  deserves  it.  At  times  I 
had  some  slight  hope,  but  in  my  sober  thoughts  I  re 
alize  that  I  must  be  forever  wedded  to  my  books." 


A  Stranger  at  Court  155 

He  placed  his  pipe  upon  the  window  ledge  and 
looked  sadly  out  upon  the  court-yard,  while  Essex 
puffed  away  in  his  corner  and  mused  upon  the  events 
of  the  preceding  week.  Suddenly  a  thought  struck 
him  and  he  broke  the  silence  with  an  eager  question. 

"Will,  what  news  have  you  of  the  fool?"  he 
asked.  "  'Tis  three  days  now  since  we  found  him  in 
the  deserted  court,  and  I  have  had  no  word  as  to  his 
welfare." 

"He  hovers  between  life  and  death,  Robert. 
Roger  informs  me  that  he  has  lain  in  a  state  of  stu 
pefaction  ever  since  we  carried  him  into  the  laundry. 
He  and  his  maid  have  bound  the  poor  fellow's 
wounds  with  soft  bandages  and  attend  him  hourly, 
and  I  fear  that  Covert  sits  up  with  him  through  the 
night,  though  it  is  not  necessary,  for  the  jester  lies 
like  a  log  upon  his  pallet,  and  they  rouse  him  only 
to  give  him  nourishment,  which  he  takes  unknow 
ingly  and  sinks  again  to  sleep." 

"Is  there  any  attempt  to  discover  his  hiding- 
place?" 

"None  that  we  know.  Evidently  his  persecutor 
rests  secure  in  the  belief  that  Pulsifer's  dead  body 
lies  withering  'neath  the  post." 

"He  may  have  a  rude  awakening,  Will,  if  once 
the  fool  gains  power  of  speech.  My  blood  boils  at 
the  cruel  treatment  of  this  inoffensive  knave,  and  I 
will  use  my  influence  with  the  Queen  to  punish  the 
wretch  who  thus  misused  him,  if  we  can  learn  his 
name." 

Will  made  no  reply  and  their  conversation  drifted 
to  other  subjects.  As  the  twilight  fell  upon  the 


156  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

court-yard  Shakespeare  spied  a  slender  figure  hur 
rying  through  the  gathering  gloom  and  making  di 
rectly  for  his  apartment.  He  jumped  up,  crying  to 
Essex :  "Why,  'tis  Henry  Wriothesley,  and  coming 
hither  at  full  speed" ;  and  he  ran  to  the  door  eagerly 
to  welcome  the  young  Earl. 

Southampton  burst  into  the  room,  and  his  friends 
caught  the  infection  of  his  boyish  spirits.  He 
greeted  them  warmly,  and  spying  Shakespeare's  pipe 
on  the  window-ledge  he  ran  and  picked  it  up;  and 
dropping  in  a  chair  stretched  out  his  legs  and  puffed 
vigorously  until  he  had  restored  bright  life  to  the 
dying  embers,  giving  vent  to  his  feelings  in  muttered 
ejaculations  of  satisfaction  and  delight. 

"O  Will,  you  have  saved  my  life,"  he  said  pres 
ently.  "My  mouth  so  watered  for  the  taste  of  smoke 
that  I  was  nearly  frantic.  But  I  came  on  greater 
business."  He  pulled  a  folded  sheet  of  scented  paper 
from  his  bosom.  "A  messenger  from  London  hand 
ed  me  a  letter  from  the  maiden,  Juliet  Florio,  in 
which  she  tells  me  that  she  is  coming  hither  to  take 
up  her  residence  at  court  with  her  father,  who  is  to 
turn  his  school  over  to  his  head  instructor.  He  is  to 
be  stationed  permanently  in  the  Queen's  household 
as  director  of  Will  Shakespeare's  plays." 

"Good !"  chorused  his  auditors. 

"The  day  after  to-morrow  will  witness  the  arrival 
of  Juliet,  and  she  may  rest  assured  that  I  will  be  at 
hand  to  attend  her  and  to  protect  her  from  the  ad 
vances  of  the  Queen's  impudent  courtiers." 

His  companions  laughed  heartily. 


A  Stranger  at  Court  157 

"You  forget  that  she  has  a  father,"  said  Shakes 
peare.  "  Tis  possible  that  he  may  have  some  slight 
intention  as  to  the  disposition  of  his  daughter." 

Wriothesley's  face  fell,  and  he  sat  by  the  window 
an  inarticulate  picture  of  woe. 

"Come,  come;  brace  up,  Henry,"  laughed  Essex. 
"  Tis  a  little  thing  to  give  a  man  the  vapours.  Why, 
you  will  drive  us  to  the  conclusion  that  you  are  in 
love  with  the  maid" ;  and  he  winked  slyly  at  Shakes 
peare. 

"That  I  am,  Robert,"  answered  the  dejected  Earl, 
"and  I  care  not  if  the  whole  world  knows  it.  I  am 
suffocated  and  submerged  by  the  billows  of  my  af 
fection.  I  am  fathoms  deep  in  the  sea  of  my  love, 
and  I  will  never  struggle  out  of  its  surging  tide  as 
long  as  there  is  a  breath  left  in  my  body  to  proclaim 
that  she  is  the  goddess  at  whose  shrine  I  worship. 
Though  I  am  counted  noble  in  the  eyes  of  a  sordid 
court  she  far  outranks  me  in  the  nobility  of  her  gen 
tle  soul.  If  ever  the  light  of  faith  and  purity  shone 
from  the  eyes  of  a  timid  virgin,  her  bright  eyes  do 
dissipate  the  darkness  and  the  evil  of  the  world. 
Have  you  been  so  blind  that  you  failed  to  fathom 
my  feeling  for  our  master's  daughter  ?" 

"Nay,  Henry,"  said  Essex,  "you  wore  your  heart 
on  your  sleeve  at  the  school,  and  no  one  save  her 
doting  father  was  in  ignorance  of  your  affection." 

"Is  it  true,  Will?"  asked  the  astonished  youth, 
turning  to  Shakespeare. 

"Aye,"  answered  the  poet.  "But  if  I  needed 
further  proof,  'twas  furnished  me  the  eve  of  our 
departure  for  court,  when  I  took  a  final  stroll  in 


158  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Florio's  moonlit  garden,  and  was  the  unintentional 
witness  of  a  tender  scene  at  the  vine-clad  balcony.'* 

Southampton's  face  grew  rosy  red  as  he  realized 
that  the  secret  of  his  heart  had  been  laid  bare  to  his 
friend.  He  was  too  embarrassed  to  reply  for  a 
moment,  but  seeing  the  friendly  look  of  sympathy  in 
the  poet's  eyes  he  soon  addressed  him. 

"Surely  you  do  not  hold  it  to  my  discredit,  Will. 
It  is  as  sacred  to  me  as  my  hope  of  future  salvation, 
and  is  engraven  in  my  memory  as  the  happiest  mo 
ment  of  my  life." 

"Nay,  nay,  Henry.  Essex  and  I  did  but  tease  you. 
I  would  have  given  worlds  to  have  stolen  away  that 
night.  I  felt  like  an  evil  interloper  encroaching  upon 
forbidden  ground,  but  I  dared  not  move  for  fear 
some  crackling  twig  might  betray  my  presence  and 
interrupt  your  plea  of  love.  I  have  never  before 
mentioned  it,  not  even  to  Robert,  and  you  may  rest 
assured  I  love  you  all  the  more  for  your  manly  woo 
ing  of  your  lovely  maid.  Here  is  my  hand,  Wrio- 
thesley.  Essex  and  I  will  stand  by  you  ever,  in  good 
fortune  or  in  bad.  If  you  will  but  confide  in  us  we'll 
help  you  to  wed  your  love,  even  if  we  have  to  take 
her  away  from  our  dear  old  tutor  by  force;  and  in 
open  defiance  of  the  Queen,  carry  the  pair  of  you  to 
some  obliging  minister  who  will  overlook  your  rank 
and  join  your  willing  hands." 

He  stepped  forward  and  placed  his  hand  caress 
ingly  'round  his  friend's  shoulder.  The  tears  came 
to  Southampton's  eyes,  and  Essex,  to  cover  his  own 
weakness,  jumped  up,  and  slapping  Henry  on  the 
shoulder  said  heartily: 


A  Stranger  at  Court  159 

"Come,  Will,  let  us  drink  a  cup  to  Wriothesley's 
future  happiness." 

Shakespeare  produced  glasses  and  a  sparkling  de 
canter  of  rare  old  Madeira.  He  filled  for  his  friends, 
and  in  answer  to  Essex's  request  of  "A  toast,  Will," 
he  threw  his  leg  upon  the  table  and  raised  his  glass 
on  high,  as  he  leaned  toward  Southampton,  his  love 
for  the  noble  youth  shining  in  his  eyes : 

"Here's  to  the  wife  of  thy  bosom 

Who  shares  her  life  with  thee ; 
Here's  to  the  happy  children 

Who  will  cluster  round  thy  knee; 
Here's  to  our  age-long  friendship, 

Good  comrades  till  we  die; 
And  here's  to  your  beloved  self 

Forever  and  for  aye." 

"Amen  to  that !"  said  Essex,  as  they  drained  their 
glasses. 

They  smoked  and  talked  until  late  at  night,  and 
when  at  last  the  Earls  arose  to  take  their  departure 
Southampton  stopped  at  the  door  and  said :  "Was 
ever  a  man  so  fortunate  in  his  friends  ?  'Twas  your 
turn  this  time,  but  mine  may  come,  and  you  may 
count  on  me  to  the  death,  my  comrades  of  'The 
Mailed  Hand.' ' 

The  three  companions  joined  Master  Florio  in 
welcoming  his  daughter  to  the  palace,  and  they  at 
tended  her  presentation  at  court  and  completely 
monopolized  her  company  while  in  the  throne-room, 
much  to  the  wonderment  of  the  Queen's  ladies,  and 
to  the  deep  disgust  of  the  courtiers,  who  pressed 
'round  her  in  an  endeavor  to  be  presented  and  who 
were  eager  to  worship  at  the  shrine  of  her  rare 


160  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

beauty.  They  were  kept  at  arm's  length,  however, 
by  her  father's  former  pupils,  and  were  at  no  pains 
to  conceal  their  chagrin.  Elizabeth  took  to  her  from 
the  first  and  wanted  to  attach  her  to  her  person,  but 
the  girl  pleaded  to  remain  with  her  father  for  a  time 
and  the  Queen  gave  in. 

Juliet  had  been  at  Windsor  for  a  fortnight,  when 
one  morning,  as  she  was  sitting  in  the  low  window 
of  her  father's  apartments,  she  saw  the  figure  of 
Henry  Wriothesley  hurrying  across  the  terrace. 

He  leaned  upon  the  window  ledge,  and  spoke 
quickly  in  his  excitement : 

"Juliet,"  he  said,  "I  am  called  away  to-morrow 
on  some  business  of  the  estate  that  does  attend  my 
coming  of  age,  and  I  am  here  to  say  good-by." 

Juliet  turned  pale. 

"Will  you  be  gone  long,  Henry  ?"  she  asked,  with 
a  gentle  sigh. 

"That  I  cannot  say.  'Tis  three  months  ere  I  at 
tain  my  majority,  and  I  may  be  compelled  to  remain 
away  from  your  dear  presence  until  that  time.  I 
cannot  bear  to  leave  you  here  exposed  to  the  amorous 
pleadings  of  these  courtly  beaus.  I  fear  I'll  lose  my 
love." 

"You  must  think  me  shallow  indeed,  Henry." 

"Nay,  Juliet,  but  'twill  seem  an  age  to  me.  Dar 
ling,"  he  said  eagerly,  "will  you  marry  me  before  I 
go?  We  must  keep  it  secret  from  the  Queen  until 
I  am  of  age  and  then  we  can  snap  our  fingers  at  her 
displeasure.  What  say  you,  my  love?" 

"I  dare  not,  Henry.  What  would  my  father  say  ?" 


A  Stranger  at  Court  161 

"We'll  find  that  out  ere  the  passage  of  a  quarter- 
hour,"  he  said,  and  throwing  all  convention  aside  he 
vaulted  over  the  window-sill.  Pressing  a  kiss  on 
Juliet's  mildly  resisting  lips  he  took  the  maiden  by 
the  hand,  saying : 

"My  love  has  made  me  bold.  We'll  seek  your 
father  and  learn  our  fate,  though  I  swear  to  have 
thee  for  my  wife  despite  the  opposition  of  the  whole 
world." 

He  led  his  trembling  sweetheart  to  the  corridor 
and  across  the  hall  to  her  father's  room,  and  knocked 
loudly  on  the  door.  In  response  to  John  Florio's 
summons,  he  entered,  still  holding  Juliet's  hand  in 
his  tight  grasp.  Master  Florio,  who  was  seated  at  a 
desk  and  was  marking  some  manuscript,  looked  up 
at  their  arrival  and  a  puzzled  expression  came  upon 
his  face  as  they  stood  before  him  with  their  fingers 
entwined. 

"Master  Florio,"  boldly  began  the  Earl,  "I've 
come  to  ask  the  hand  of  your  daughter  in  honorable 
marriage.  I've  loved  her  long  and  my  heart  is  eaten 
out  with  impatience.  I  leave  the  court  to-morrow 
for  a  time,  and  I  crave  your  permission  to  make  her 
my  bride  this  very  day." 

"Softly,  softly,"  said  Florio,  an  amused  light  in 
his  gentle  eyes;  "she  is  far  below  your  station  and 
you  know  not  but  that  I  have  other  plans  for  her 
marriage  with  a  man  of  equal  rank." 

"Oh,  father!"  protested  his  daughter. 

"Besides,  you  are  not  of  age,  and  the  Queen  is 
warden  of  your  estate  till  then,  and  you  must  needs 
have  her  permission." 


162  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"Let  it  be  done  secretly,  Master  Florio,  and  the 
very  day  my  bonds  are  loosed  I'll  proclaim  her  my 
Lady  to  the  world." 

Florio  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  calmly  sur 
veyed  the  young  Earl. 

"Dost  love  him  very  much,  daughter?"  he  said 
at  last,  turning  toward  the  girl. 

"Oh!  with  my  whole  heart,  father,"  answered 
Juliet.  "I  cannot  live  without  him." 

The  tutor  chuckled  heartily,  and  Southampton 
knew  that  his  cause  was  won. 

"We  do  not  die  of  love,  Juliet,  but  young  hearts 
are  not  to  be  denied.  You  are  the  very  pattern  of 
your  beautiful  mother,  when  I  wooed  her  in  Italy," 
said  Florio,  with  a  sigh.  "My  daughter's  happiness 
is  my  soul's  greatest  desire.  Ah,  what  a  pair  of 
young  fools  you  are.  I  watched  your  growing  love 
when  you  were  scarcely  more  than  children  at  the 
school,  and  I  gloried  in  it.  Did  any  member  of 
the  Queenly  suite  save  Henry  Wriothesley  come  to 
me  with  this  proposition  of  a  secret  marriage,  I'd 
straightway  spurn  him  from  my  presence;  but  I 
know  my  pupil's  honest  English  heart,  and  confide 
to  him  my  treasure,  secure  in  the  knowledge  that  he 
will  return  to  claim  his  wife,  whom  I  will  hold  safely 
for  him  until  he  is  his  own  master  in  the  eyes  of  the 
law." 

Juliet  flew  to  her  father  and  kissed  him  fondly, 
while  Henry  knelt  at  his  side  and  grasped  his  hand, 
fervently  muttering  his  expressions  of  gratitude. 

"I  will  aid  you  still  further,"  continued  this  in 
dulgent  parent,  "for  I  know  a  discreet  churchman 


A  Stranger  at  Court  163 

who  greatly  favours  marriage  even  amongst  the 
clergy,  and  who  will  join  you  gladly,  and  will  take 
much  joy  in  keeping  your  secret  from  the  Queen." 

"I  venture  I  could  call  his  name,"  said  Wriothes- 
ley. 

"S-sh !  Do  not  let  the  folly  of  youth  o'erleap  the 
bounds  of  caution.  Names  are  dangerous  parts  of 
speech  to  parse  within  these  castle  walls." 

"I'll  heed  your  warning,  sir;  but  truly  I  do  wish 
it  could  be  arranged  to  have  my  bride  accompany 
me.  'Twill  seem  an  eternity  ere  my  return." 

f  'Tis  ever  the  way  with  lovers.  Not  content  with 
the  moon,  you  do  sigh  for  the  sun.  Juliet,  what  say 
you  ?  Are  you  not  surprised  and  more  than  satisfied 
at  the  happy  termination  of  your  visit  to  your 
father's  study?" 

"I— I  think  I  do  sigh  for  the  sun,  too,  father," 
said  the  sweet  maiden,  as  Florio  arose,  and  taking 
a  hand  of  each  of  the  children  led  them  happily  from 
the  room. 

Late  the  same  afternoon  Will  Shakespeare  sat 
idly  on  the  terrace  in  the  shade  of  a  clump  of  holly 
trees  that  formed  an  evergreen  half-circle  at  the  bor 
der  of  one  of  the  Queen's  walks.  He  was  thinking 
of  Southampton  and  his  impetuous  love  for  the  fair 
Juliet,  when  he  heard  steps  on  the  walk  and  the  liv 
ing  subjects  of  his  day-dream  stepped  round  the 
trees  and  stood  before  him.  He  arose  quickly  to 
greet  them  as  Southampton  spoke : 

"We've  been  looking  for  you  everywhere,  Will; 
I  wanted  to  commend  Mistress  Wriothesley  to  your 
keeping." 


164  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"Are  you  married,  Henry  ?"  gasped  Shakespeare. 
Then,  collecting  his  startled  senses,  he  doffed  his  cap 
and  made  a  sweeping  courtesy  to  the  beautiful  girl, 
offering  his  heartfelt  congratulations  to  the  happy 
pair. 

"Yes.  My  Lord  Bishop  Kitchen  wedded  us  at 
noon  at  Master  Florio's  request,  and  will  keep  our 
secret  until  my  estate  is  released.  During  my  ab 
sence  I  will  look  to  you  and  Essex  to  entertain  my 
bride.  She  is  a  stranger  in  a  wicked  court  and  there 
are  none  save  you  two  and  her  father  who  are  fit  to 
touch  her  hand.  I  will  even  leave  her  with  you  now 
for  a  short  space  of  time  while  I  seek  my  apart 
ments  and  make  some  final  preparations  for  my 
journey,  that  I  may  spend  this  last  evening  in  the 
company  of  my  love."  He  bowed  low,  then  turned 
and  walked  swiftly  across  the  court. 

Shakespeare  and  Juliet  seated  themselves  upon 
the  bench  and  he  told  her  of  his  delight  in  their 
marriage ;  of  his  love  for  Southampton ;  of  their  first 
meeting,  when  Henry  gave  him  supper  at  the  inn; 
of  their  happy  days  at  the  old  school  in  London ; 
but  with  gentle  tact  he  forbore  all  reference  to  his 
eavesdropping  and  his  vision  of  their  first  declara 
tion  of  love.  She  laughingly  told  him  of  Henry's 
boldness  in  the  morning,  and  of  her  own  trepidation ; 
of  the  love  that  her  good  father  bore  for  them ;  and 
of  the  eagerness  of  Kitchen  to  marry  them,  so  disap 
pointed  was  he  in  his  attempts  to  force  the  Queen  to 
sanction  his  own  marriage  that  it  was  balm  to  his 
soul  when  he  could  exercise  his  ministerial  power 
and  marry  others  'gainst  her  will. 


A  Stranger  at  Court  165 

They  laughed  and  chatted  merrily,  and  failed  to 
note  the  light  footfall  of  one  of  the  Queen's  ladies 
who  passed  along  the  walk.  She  reached  the  clump 
of  trees  and  stopped  suddenly  as  she  heard  their 
happy  voices.  These  words  were  born  upon  her  list 
ening  ears : 

"Ah,  Master  Shakespeare,  'tis  strange  you  have 
not  wed  ere  this.  There's  many  a  lady  of  the  court 
would  deem  herself  fortunate  to  become  your  bride. 
And  you  were  not  in  love  even  when  we  were  at  the 
school?" 

"Nay,  I  swear  to  you,  Juliet,  I  knew  not  the  mean 
ing  of  the  word  love  until  I  entered  here." 

There  was  a  rustle  of  skirts,  and  Lady  Anne 
Hathaway  appeared  around  the  trees  and  approach 
ed  their  bench. 

Will  Shakespeare  arose,  and  raising  his  cap  was 
about  to  present  her  to  his  fair  companion ;  but  she 
opened  wide  her  eyes  and  looked  him  through  and 
through  with  never  a  sign  of  recognition.  Then  she 
elevated  her  chin  and  her  lips  curled  with  an  expres 
sion  of  supercilious  scorn  as  she  turned  her  back 
upon  the  bewildered  pair  and  swept  proudly  down 
the  walk  toward  the  castle. 


CHAPTER  XIII 
THE  JESTER'S  REVENGE 

Pulsifer  Kyd  lay  on  an  enormous  pile  of  un 
washed  linen  in  a  little  curtained  recess  at  one 
corner  of  Anne  Holcombe's  laundry.  The  hang 
ings  were  sheets  so  cleverly  arranged  as  to  give 
them  the  appearance  of  having  been  hung  there  to 
dry,  and  the  innumerable  articles  of  bed-clothing 
and  wearing  apparel  that  hung  on  the  lines  between 
his  refuge  and  the  door  served  almost  to  conceal 
the  corner  from  the  view  of  a  chance  visitor. 

In  the  hollow  cheeks  and  attenuated  form  and 
the  gaunt  head  that  appeared  so  ghastly  against  the 
background  of  the  white  pillow  it  would  have  been 
hard  indeed  to  recognize  the  person  of  the  capering 
fool  who  had  so  often  amused  the  Queen  and  court 
by  his  flashes  of  wit.  The  first  few  days  of  stupe 
faction  had  been  followed  by  an  attack  of  fever,  and 
it  was  due  alone  to  the  unceasing  vigilance  and 
patient  nursing  of  Roger  Covert  and  his  laundress 
that  the  breath  of  life  still  remained  in  this  emaciated 
wreck  of  a  man.  He  had  become  able  to  take  a  few 
drops  of  nourishment  at  long  intervals,  and  it  was 
due  to  their  administration  that  a  little  strength  was 
coming  back  to  him  and  that  his  power  of  speech 
was  now  somewhat  restored.  The  guardsman  sat 


The  Jester's  Revenge  167 

on  an  inverted  tub  by  his  resting-place  and  with 
one  arm  supported  his  head  while  with  the  other 
hand  he  fed  him  a  few  spoonfuls  of  a  stimulating 
broth. 

"There  now,  Pulsifer,"  said  he,  "Anne's  soup 
will  warm  the  cockles  of  your  heart,  and  we'll  make 
a  new  man  of  you.  We'll  put  the  flesh  back  upon 
your  bones — that  is,  all  that  was  not  stripped  off 
your  back  by  your  cruel  master's  whip — and  we'll 
prepare  to  laugh  again  and  oft  at  your  merry  sallies 
before  the  Queen." 

The  fool  looked  at  him  with  his  staring  eyes. 

"Do  you  think,  Master  Covert,  that  there  is  some 
slight  chance  for  me  to  live?"  he  asked. 

"Zounds,  man!"  answered  Roger,  "there's  not  a 
doubt  of  it.  'Twould  take  more  than  a  beating  to 
crush  the  vital  spark  in  your  droll  and  toughened 
carcass." 

"Nay,  I  misdoubt  it  much,"  said  Kyd.  "The 
spirit  within  me  is  broken  and  I  care  not  whether 
I  live  or  die.  I  served  my  Lord  faithfully,  even 
though  'twas  in  an  evil  cause,  and  witness  his  re 
ward.  While  you  and  your  good  master,  against 
whose  life  I  plotted,  do  raise  me  up  and  succour  me 
in  my  affliction.  I  cannot  understand  it.  'Twould 
have  been  more  seemly  had  you  left  me  there  to 
die." 

"Nay,  Pulsifer.  You  were  but  a  tool  and  did 
as  you  were  bid.  You  owed  your  existence  at  the 
court  to  him  and  were  thus  completely  in  his  power. 
And  indirectly  you  did  save  Will  Shakespeare's  life, 
for  I  overheard  your  conversation  with  Fernando 


168  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

upon  the  royal  barge  and  warned  my  master  forth 
with  of  your  conspiracy." 

A  light  came  into  the  jester's  eyes  and  a  faint 
color  mounted  his  cheeks. 

"Then  you  were  the  soldier  who  bought  the  fish 
from  the  Jew?"  he  asked  eagerly. 

"Aye,"  answered  Roger,  "the  very  same." 

"I  see  it  all  now,"  murmured  the  fool.  "I  laid 
the  intervention  in  the  poet's  favor  to  supernatural 
hands;  but  your  explanation  makes  all  clear  and 
much  relieves  my  tired  brain.  But  whether  I  am 
to  live  or  die  I  would  make  reparation  for  the  wrong 
I've  done  a  noble  man,  and  I  pray  the  breath  of  life 
may  remain  within  my  lungs  until  it  is  accom 
plished." 

"You  had  best  think  only  of  getting  well,  Kyd. 
Sir  Thomas  is  unlikely  to  make  another  attempt 
upon  my  master's  life,  especially  since  he  knows 
you  are  at  large.  I've  heard  it  whispered  by  my 
comrades  of  the  guard  that  he  is  searching  every 
where  for  you  and  has  spread  a  tale  amongst  the 
courtiers  that  you  purloined  his  purse  and  dis 
appeared  in  consequence.  The  Queen  laughs  at 
him,  saying  that  it  is  a  good  joke,  and  that  you  were 
less  of  a  fool  than  she  thought.  She  even  twitted 
him  with  your  warning  on  the  barge,  at  which  his 
brow  grew  black  and  he  was  in  a  pestilent  humour 
for  the  rest  of  the  day." 

The  jester  smiled  faintly. 

( 'Tis  unlikely  that  he  will  find  me  in  this  snug 
retreat,"  he  said.  "But  tell  me,  Master  Covert,  does 
he  still  seek  the  hand  of  the  Queen's  beautiful  maid 
of  honor?" 


The  Jester's  Revenge  169 

"You  mean  the  Lady  Anne  Hathaway.  Why,  he 
flutters  'round  the  flame  of  her  bright  eyes  like  the 
deluded  moth  scorching  his  wings  on  a  flickering 
taper.  For  a  time  his  suit  seemed  cold,  and  the 
maiden  would  have  none  of  him ;  but  she  has  turned 
again,  chameleon-like,  and  eagerly  welcomes  his 
approach.  They  spend  long  hours  together  on  the 
terrace  and  ride  and  walk  often  in  company,  which 
pleases  the  Queen  o'er  much,  as  she  has  long  desired 
to  mate  the  Chancellor  and  her  haughty  maid. 
Meanwhile,  my  master,  Will  Shakespeare,  of  whom 
I  know  not  what  to  make,  has  plunged  deep  into  the 
writing  of  his  books  and  seldom  takes  the  air,  and 
when  I  catch  sight  of  his  glum  face  it  makes  me  sad, 
for  he  was  ever  a  merry  youth  and  withal  a  kind 
master  and  of  a  gentle  nature  as  you  well  know. 
I  would  that  I  could  cheer  him  up,  though  my  efforts 
would  count  for  naught  when  those  of  Robert 
Devereux  and  the  beautiful  Italian  damsel  prove 
unavailing." 

"Think  you  that  Anne  Hathaway  loves  the  Chan 
cellor?" 

"That  I  cannot  say,  Pulsifer,  though  I  am  sure 
that  Will  Shakespeare  loves  her." 

"Then  we  can  place  a  stumbling-block  in  Hat- 
ton's  path.  Do  you  go  to  her,  Covert,  and  inform 
her  of  his  treachery.  Twill  clear  the  way  for  the 
poet." 

"Nay,"  said  Roger,  shaking  his  head  sadly,  "my 
master  swore  me  to  secrecy.  I  proposed  it  myself 
the  night  of  the  festival,  but  he  would  not  hear  to  it, 
and  I  dare  not  break  my  oath." 


170  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"O  if  this  sick  body  of  mine  were  of  the  inclina 
tion  of  my  brain,"  groaned  the  jester,  "I  would  seek 
the  maid  myself.  There  is  no  seal  upon  my  lips,  v.nd 
it  might  result  in  the  happiness  of  two  young  lives 
and  the  downfall  of  a  tremendous  villain." 

"Stay,"  said  Covert.  "Though  I  am  pledged  to 
my  master  I  will  countenance  the  sending  of  a  mes 
sage  to  Mistress  Hathaway;  or  better  still,  Pulsifer, 
if  we  could  only  entice  her  here  and  let  her  see  for 
herself  your  pitiable  state  and  your  raw  wounds, 
your  tale  would  indeed  have  much  effect.  I'll  send 
Anne  Holcombe  to  you,  that  you  may  contrive  some 
plan  to  bring  the  proud  beauty  to  your  side,  and 
I  will  close  my  ears  and  thus  observe  the  letter  of  my 
master's  faith." 

He  arose  and  was  about  to  raise  the  sheet,  when 
he  heard  pattering  steps,  and  the  laundress  darted 
excitedly  into  their  retreat. 

"O  Roger,"  she  cried,  "two  guardsmen  are  speed 
ing  across  the  castle  yard  and  head  directly  for  my 
door.  What  shall  we  do  ?  What  shall  we  do  ?  The 
poor  jester  will  be  discovered." 

Covert  said  not  a  word,  but  raised  Pulsifer's 
gaunt  frame  in  his  strong  arms  and  told  Anne  Hol 
combe  to  move  aside  the  heap  of  linen.  When  she 
had  done  so  he  laid  the  fool  gently  upon  the  bare 
floor,  and  they  covered  him  with  the  clothing  until 
but  a  few  pieces  remained  unused.  Then  Roger  lay 
carefully  down  upon  the  pile,  saying : 

"Cover  me  over  lightly,  Anne,  and  strenuously 
plead  your  innocence  when  they  approach.  Use 


The  Jester's  Revenge  171 

every  endeavour  to  keep  them  away  from  the  screen 
and  I  am  much  mistaken  if  they  do  not  take  the 
bait." 

Anne  placed  the  remaining  garments  over  the 
guardsman,  and  then  ran  to  the  door  just  as  two 
burly  soldiers  stamped  into  the  room. 

"My  pretty  laundress,"  said  one,  impudently 
chucking  her  under  the  chin,  "we've  come  to  search 
your  castle.  Tis  the  last  resort,  for  every  other 
nook  and  cranny  of  the  court  has  been  explored. 
If  you  have  been  harboring  the  court  fool,  you  had 
better  give  him  up  or  you  may  lose  your  laundry." 

Anne  dropped  on  her  knees  and  wept  bitterly  as 
she  loudly  proclaimed  her  innocence. 

"Come  now,  stop  your  blubbering,"  said  the  sec 
ond  guardsman,  "we  are  not  harming  women.  We 
want  only  the  jester."  He  strode  to  the  tubs  and 
poked  the  drying  clothes,  and  suddenly  espied  the 
drapery  in  the  corner.  "Oho,"  said  he,  "the  trail 
grows  hot !"  and  he  made  for  the  retreat.  The  laun 
dress  ran  to  him  and  seized  him  around  the  knees, 
tearing  at  his  clothing  in  her  efforts  to  restrain  his 
steps.  He  pushed  her  off  with  a  curse  and  tore 
the  hanging  sheet  aside,  giving  a  laugh  of  triumph 
as  he  saw  the  great  heap  of  linen. 

"I  think  we've  found  his  lair,"  he  said,  and  his 
companion  ran  to  his  assistance,  and  together  they 
threw  the  soiled  garments  off  the  top  of  the  pile. 
In  a  moment  they  gave  an  exclamation  of  delight 
as  a  heavy  boot  was  exposed  to  view.  They  tore 
furiously  at  the  clothing,  and  soon  uncovered  the 


172  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

figure  of  a  man,  which  sat  up,  disclosing  to  their 
astonished  view  the  features  of  their  brother-guards 
man,  Roger  Covert. 

"Curse  you !"  said  that  worthy,  in  a  violent  tem 
per;  "cannot  a  man  steal  a  few  moments  when  off 
duty  to  visit  his  lady  love  without  the  interference 
of  a  couple  of  prying  varlets,  who  compel  him  to 
hide  in  this  foul  linen  that  he  might  save  the  maid 
en's  reputation  from  their  prattling  tongues  ?  I  tell 
you  it  is  a  sneaking  trick  to  play  upon  your  comrade, 
and  'tis  not  soldierly  to  come  with  your  bellowing 
tale  of  a  disappearing  jester." 

"Roger,  Roger,  we  meant  no  harm!"  cried  the 
first  guardsman.  "By  my  faith,  if  we  had  known 
you  were  here  we  never  would  have  meddled.  I  hope 
you  will  not  hold  it  against  us.  We  sought  the  fool, 
who  has  stolen  Hatton's  purse  and  has  vanished 
several  weeks  since,  as  you  must  know." 

Roger  seemed  to  become  gradually  appeased  by 
their  protestations,  and  they  solemnly  gave  him  their 
pledges  of  secrecy,  which  he  was  certain  they  would 
keep,  for  they  knew  him  of  old  and  feared  to  anger 
him. 

"Faith,  you  live  up  to  your  old  name  of  Roger 
'Under  Cover,'  "  said  the  second  guardsman,  as 
they  took  their  departure. 

When  they  had  disappeared  in  the  court-yard, 
Anne  and  Roger  hastily  removed  the  garments 
from  the  poor  jester  and  rearranged  his  couch  and 
made  him  comfortable  once  more. 

'  'Twas  a  narrow  escape,"  said  Covert.  "You 
are  well-nigh  smothered,  Pulsifer;  but  you  are  in  a 


The  Jester's  Revenge  173 

fine  sweat,  which  will  be  a  God-send  for  the  fever, 
and  we  need  have  no  more  fear  of  searchers  in  this 
quarter.  My  comrades  will  report  that  the  laundry 
is  above  suspicion.  And  now  I  will  leave  Anne 
with  you,  that  you  may  enter  into  your  compact 
concerning  Mistress  Hathaway." 

He  went  to  the  door  and  stood  overlooking  the 
castle  yard  and  smiling  to  himself  at  thought  of  the 
soldiers'  discomfiture. 

An  hour  later  the  laundress  knocked  timidly  at 
the  door  of  Anne  Hathaway's  apartment,  which  was 
opened  by  the  maiden  herself. 

"Why,  who  sent  you  here?"  she  asked  in  aston 
ishment.  "Your  duties  lie  in  the  servants'  quarters." 

"My  Lady,  I  am  the  bearer  of  a  message  from 
Pulsifer  Kyd,  the  jester.  He  lies  in  hiding  in  my 
laundry,  and  is  sick  nigh  unto  death." 

"What  has  the  fool  to  do  with  me.  I  will  report 
the  thief's  whereabouts  to  the  Queen." 

"Nay,  my  Lady,  he  is  no  thief,  but  a  sadly 
misused  wretch,  who  has  an  important  disclosure 
to  make  to  you  concerning  his  master,  Sir  Thomas 
Hatton." 

Anne  flushed,  but  listened  with  more  attention 
for  the  messenger's  reply  to  her  question : 

"Of  what  consequence  is  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  to 
me,  I  pray  you  ?" 

"That  I  know  not,  but  I  do  know  that  he  had 
the  jester  beaten  severely  and  left  him  to  die,  which 
he  would  have  done  most  promptly  had  not  Master 
Shakespeare  intervened  and  saved  his  life." 


174  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"I  am  of  a  mind  to  listen  to  his  tale,"  said  Anne 
Hathaway,  "if  you  will  take  me  to  him." 

"He  eagerly  awaits  you,  my  Lady,"  answered 
the  laundress,  as  Anne  retired  to  her  room  for  a 
moment.  She  returned  with  a  light  shawl,  and  the 
maidens  swiftly  threaded  the  corridors  and  stole 
unobserved  across  the  castle  yard  to  Anne  Hoi- 
combe's  domain. 

The  girl  took  the  Queen's  lady  behind  the  screen 
and  left  her  alone  by  the  bedside  of  the  jester, 
returning  to  her  long-neglected  tubs. 

Anne  Hathaway  was  horrified  at  the  emaciation 
of  the  poor  fool,  and  a  wave  of  pity  surged  over  her 
while  the  tears  came  into  her  eyes. 

Pulsifer's  quick  eyes  noted  her  emotion. 

"Do  not  weep,  my  Lady,"  he  said.  "I  deserve 
your  condemnation,  not  your  tears.  I  am  little  bet 
ter  than  an  assassin,  for  I  plotted  to  kill,  and  it  is 
not  my  fault  that  the  poet  Shakespeare  does  not  lie 
at  the  bottom  of  the  Thames  in  place  of  that  yellow 
Spaniard,  Fernando  Cordes." 

Anne  clutched  her  heart  in  her  excitement  at  his 
revelation. 

"  'Tis  no  wonder  that  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  had 
you  flogged.  Had  I  been  Lord  Chancellor  your 
carcass  would  have  swung  from  the  castle  wall  for 
your  conspiracy.  But  why  do  you  make  this  evil 
confession  to  me?  I  have  no  interest  in  William 
Shakespeare." 

Pulsifer  looked  blankly  at  the  maid  for  a  moment, 
then  his  weak  throat  gave  vent  to  a  hoarse  laugh. 


The  Jester's  Revenge  175 

"Why,  'twas  the  Chancellor  himself  that  planned 
the  murder  and  I  was  but  his  tool,"  he  said;  "and 
for  the  failure  of  Fernando  to  despatch  his  victim, 
I  being  the  only  dupe  at  hand,  was  made  to  suffer, 
and  as  I  threatened  to  expose  him  to  the  Queen 
his  lips  pronounced  the  death  sentence  upon  me,  and 
'twas  not  his  fault  that  I  survived. 

"Though  you  have  no  interest  in  the  playwright 
you  have  much  in  Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  and  it  is  an 
act  of  mercy  to  warn  you  in  time.  See,"  he  said, 
as  with  the  strength  of  despair  he  sat  up  on  the 
couch  and  tore  the  shirt  and  bandages  from  his  back. 
"Let  no  false  feelings  of  modesty  cast  down  your 
eyes,  but  look  upon  these  cruel  stripes,  the  ghastly 
souvenirs  of  his  vengeful  hate." 

"My  God !  Can  this  be  true  ?"  shuddered  the  girl, 
as  she  sank  aghast  upon  the  upturned  tub. 

"Alas !  too  true,  my  Lady.  '.Tis  said  that  the  Lord 
Chancellor  seeks  your  hand  and  favors  you  much 
with  his  loving  advances.  Think  you  that  a  man 
who  is  capable  of  doing  murder  and  of  inflicting 
punishment  like  mine  on  the  lowest  specimen  of 
humankind  would  make  a  gentle  husband  ?  At  that 
I  would  not  warn  you,  though  my  wounds  cry  for 
vengeance;  but  his  intended  victim  was  my  saviour 
and  I  have  some  inkling  that  his  sighs  are  cast  in 
your  direction." 

"Nay,  Kyd,  you  are  mistaken.  He  worships 
at  another  shrine.  But  why  should  my  Lord  Hatton 
seek  his  life?" 

"Because  he  sought  your  love,  and  he  imagined 
that  the  poet  stood  in  his  way.  Fernando  Cordes 


176  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

was  to  stab  him  on  the  royal  barge.  I  saw  the  knife 
fall  before  the  fish  got  him ;  but  Master  Shakespeare 
rose  smiling  and  unhurt  in  the  midst  of  the  general 
confusion,  though  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  what 
turned  the  dagger's  edge,  for  the  aim  was  true. 
Some  fairy  hand  must  have  clutched  the  assassin's 
blade/' 

"The  arrival  of  the  monster  was  a  visitation  of 
Providence,  Kyd?" 

"Nay,  'twas  prearranged.  I  have  since  learned 
that  his  loyal  serving-man  overheard  our  plot  and 
garbed  himself  in  this  mask  of  the  fish,  though  all 
on  board  the  float  were  fooled  by  its  natural  appear 
ance  in  the  dim  light  of  the  flickering  lanterns." 

"Why  did  he  not  inform  the  Queen  and  have  the 
wretch  cast  into  the  Tower?  'Twould  have  saved 
him  many  pains  and  much  danger." 

"He  did  contend  with  Shakespeare  and  insisted 
upon  revealing  the  plot  to  Her  Majesty,  but  the  poet 
most  sternly  refused  to  countenance  such  action, 
holding  that  it  would  not  be  the  part  of  honour  to 
bear  a  tattling  tongue." 

"And  he  went  to  the  barge  knowing  full  well 
that  his  life  would  be  attempted  ?" 

"Yes,  my  Lady.  He  decided  to  cope  with  the 
assassin  alone  and  unarmed,  though  he  was  sta 
tioned  apart  from  the  other  courtiers  by  Hatton's 
order.  He  knew  nothing  of  the  guardsman's  plan, 
and  the  wonder  is  that  he  still  lives." 

A  queer  look  came  into  Anne  Hathaway's  eyes, 
and  she  buried  her  face  in  her  hands  and  sat  in 
silence  for  a  long  time.  The  jester,  weakened  by 


The  Jester's  Revenge  177 

the  excitement  of  the  interview  and  the  stirring 
events  of  the  day,  lay  exhausted  on  the  linen,  with 
half-shut  lids  and  with  the  beads  of  perspiration 
shining  on  his  clammy  brow. 

At  last  Anne  raised  her  head  and  spoke : 

"My  poor  fellow,  I  am  under  a  heavy  obligation 
to  you  for  my  warning,"  she  said.  "I  think  Sir 
Thomas  Hatton  will  be  read  a  bitter  lesson  when 
next  we  meet;  and  what  is  more,  Kyd,  I  will  use 
my  personal  efforts  with  the  Queen  to  have  you 
restored  to  favour  as  soon  as  you  are  well,  and  I  will 
so  arrange  that  you  need  have  no  more  fear  of  the 
Lord  Chancellor." 

"I  fear  that  I  am  on  the  couch  of  Death,  my 
Lady,"  murmured  the  jester. 

"Nay,  nay,  Kyd.  You  must  keep  up  your  cour 
age.  I  will  send  you  a  chirurgeon  and  an  attendant 
with  medicine  and  dainties,  and  we  will  have  you 
quickly  nursed  back  to  health  and  strength,  though 
you  will  ever  bear  the  marks  of  Hatton's  malice." 

The  fool  mumbled  his  grateful  thanks,  and  Anne 
Hathaway  left  the  laundry,  going  directly  to  her 
rooms,  where  she  threw  herself  upon  a  divan  and 
pondered  o'er  the  revelations  of  Hatton's  duplicity. 

"Coward!  Assassin!  Lover!"  she  said.  "And 
he  thought  to  trick  me  with  his  protestations  of  af 
fection.  Even  my  Queen  is  befooled  by  his  smiling 
visage  and  his  insinuating  grace.  And  I,  God  help 
me,  was  on  the  verge  of  yielding  to  his  suit  and 
becoming  his  wife.  I  was  dazzled  by  the  glamour 
of  his  high  rank  and  his  proud  position  at  court. 
I  could  have  been  one  of  the  first  ladies  in  the  land, 


178  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

but  I  am  spared  an  awful  fate.  Oh!  the  treachery 
that  is  cloaked  'neath  many  a  fair  exterior.  A  nobler 
heart  beats  in  the  breast  of  Shakespeare's  humble 
serving-man  than  ever  stirred  the  pulses  of  the 
wicked  Chancellor.  There  is  true  faith  for  you, 
Anne ;  the  love  of  this  man  for  his  master.  He  over 
looked  all  thought  of  danger  to  himself  and  risked 
his  life  to  save  his  hero. 

"The  poet  showed  a  courage  which  I  never  cred 
ited  to  his  gentle  nature.  Ah,  Will  Shakespeare, 
if  you  were  as  steadfast  in  your  love  as  you  are  in 
your  bravery,  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  might  have  cause 
for  jealousy.  But  I  must  despatch  a  note  and  de 
mand  the  return  of  my  garter.  You  are  so  enam 
oured  of  your  Italian  doll  that  I  fear  the  jewel  may 
change  owners,  and  I  swear  no  other  woman  shall 
ever  wear  my  precious  buckle." 


CHAPTER  XIV 
A  LADY  AND  A  LORD 

Four  men  sat  in  the  bed-chamber  of  the  Spanish 
King  and  entered  eagerly  into  a  discussion  of  the 
monarch's  plans  regarding  his  marriage. 

They  were  the  Duke  of  Alva;  Alexander  Farnese, 
Duke  of  Parma;  the  Queen  of  England's  Lord 
Chancellor,  Sir  Thomas  Hatton ;  and  the  King  him 
self. 

Although  the  hour  was  close  to  noon,  Philip  II 
had  but  just  arisen  and  had  attired  himself  in  a 
faded  dressing-gown  and  a  pair  of  dingy  woollen 
slippers,  looking  anything  but  the  ruling  spirit  of 
the  proudest  Catholic  realm  in  the  world  as  he  sat 
with  his  long  limbs  crossed  and  blinked  with  bleary 
eyes  at  his  councillors. 

"What  success  had  you  with  Elizabeth?"  asked 
the  King,  addressing  Hatton. 

"Your  Majesty,  I  most  ardently  plead  your  cause, 
but  she  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  my  argument,  saying 
that  she  would  not  forsake  her  faith  even  for  such  a 
prize  as  the  King  of  Spain.  She  intimated  that  your 
stay  had  been  much  prolonged  at  court  and  that 
'twould  please  her  mightily  when  she  saw  the  white 
sails  of  your  ship  speeding  down  the  Thames,  and 
set  for  home." 


180  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Philip  gnashed  his  teeth  in  his  rage. 

"Think  you  that  our  difference  in  religion  is  her 
true  reason,  Hatton  ?"  he  asked. 

"That  I  cannot  say,  your  Majesty.  She  is  a 
woman  of  many  minds,  but  I  am  prone  to  believe 
that  her  determination  is  steadfast  on  one  point,  her 
desire  to  rule  alone.  I  have  heard  her  say  to  Ra 
leigh,  when  first  you  came  to  England,  that  in  mar 
rying  a  King  she  would  never  be  more  than  Queen ; 
but  in  her  single  state  she  is  both  King  and  Queen, 
her  reign  unhampered  by  the  wishes  of  a  royal 
spouse,  and  free  to  play  at  Cupid's  game  with  the 
many  changing  nobles,  courtiers,  and  even  kings  that 
figure  on  her  checker-board  of  love." 

"She  has  ever  been  a  fickle  monarch,"  said  Alva ; 
"but,  as  age  grows  on  apace,  methinks  she'd  much 
prefer  to  give  up  the  cares  of  state,  and  place  the 
reins  of  power  in  manly  hands." 

"Age  enters  not  into  her  consideration,"  said  Hat- 
ton.  "She'll  be  a  lover  until  she  dies." 

"What  part  does  the  Earl  of  Leicester  play  in  this 
game  of  love?"  asked  the  Duke  of  Parma. 

"Upon  my  faith,  I  am  convinced  that  you've 
struck  the  root  of  all  this  opposition.  Since  Eliza 
beth  first  met  him  years  ago,  his  power  at  court  has 
not  waned,  even  for  an  instant.  The  ever-changing 
courtiers  come  and  go,  but  Robert  Dudley  remains 
at  her  left  hand  and  she  ever  bends  a  ready  ear  to  his 
councils.  He  never  oversteps  the  bounds  of  dignity 
while  in  the  presence  of  her  suite,  but  'tis  certain 
that  he  holds  her  in  some  spell;  and,  though  he  is 


A  Lady  and  a  Lord  181 

of  lowly  birth,  the  heart  of  the  mighty  Elizabeth  in 
clines  more  toward  his  love  than  that  of  the  greatest 
prince  of  Europe." 

"Why  the  Devil  does  she  not  marry  the  upstart?" 
snapped  the  King.  "Surely  the  spoiled  creature  has 
her  own  way  in  everything  else.  'Twould  be  con 
sistent  with  many  other  unqueenly  acts." 

"Indeed,  'tis  a  great  mystery  at  court.  Surely  it 
must  be  due  alone  to  the  perversity  of  her  nature. 
Realizing  that  she  may,  she  will  not  have  him ;  but 
if  any  one  should  dare  to  offer  opposition  to  the 
Earl  no  doubt  she  would  wed  him  in  much  haste  and 
rule  him  too  with  a  rod  of  iron." 

"She  would  never  rule  the  King  of  Spain,"  mut 
tered  Philip,  "and  the  sly  minx  is  too  cute  to  put  her 
head  into  the  trap.  I  am  firmly  convinced  that  we 
waste  our  time  in  her  court.  She  has  put  me  off  for 
many  weeks  with  her  elusive  answers,  but  I  can  see 
that  she  is  but  the  echo  of  Leicester's  wish.  I  give 
him  joy  in  his  conquest.  I  care  not  for  myself,  'tis 
the  added  power  that  I  crave.  Upon  my  soul,  Mary 
Stuart  would  make  a  more  tender  bride.  She  is  a 
good  Catholic,  and  if  I  can  but  compass  her  release 
I  am  certain  that  she  will  bestow  her  hand  and  also 
her  heart  upon  me  as  my  reward. 

"Why,  this  petulant  Elizabeth  did  most  shortly 
refuse  to  grant  me  even  a  trifling  favour.  I  demanded 
the  hand  of  one  of  her  maids  for  Gomez  de  Silva, 
who  was  infatuated  with  her  beauty,  and  she  curtly 
advised  me  to  send  the  minister  to  plead  his  own 
cause,  saying  that  she  never  interfered  in  the  love 
affairs  of  her  ladies.  Tis  a  great  country,  where 


182  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

the  wishes  of  a  sovereign  go  for  naught.  If  we  had 
the  maid  in  sunny  Spain  we'd  soon  humble  her 
proud  spirit." 

"Who  was  the  maiden  that  Don  Gomez  desired?" 
asked  Alexander  Farnese  of  the  King. 

"The  handsomest  of  all  her  attendants  and  the 
haughtiest  in  her  bearing.  She  is  named  Anne 
Hathaway." 

The  Chancellor's  ears  pricked  up  and  he  straight 
ened  his  shoulders  as  he  addressed  the  King : 

"I  flatter  myself,  your  Majesty,  that  a  kinder  fate 
is  in  store  for  Mistress  Hathaway.  Elizabeth  dis 
sembled  when  she  assured  you  that  she  never  med 
dled  with  her  maidens'  loves.  She  has  long  openly 
countenanced  my  suit  of  the  lady-in-waiting,  and  ere 
the  sun  sets  on  another  day  I  am  confident  that  I 
will  hold  the  plighted  troth  of  the  beautiful  damsel. 
She  has  been  all  smiles  to  me  of  late  and  most  openly 
welcomes  my  loving  advances.  No  doubt  she  had 
the  Queen's  ear  in  advance  of  your  Majesty  and  told 
her  love  for  me  to  her  indulgent  mistress. 

"Poor  de  Silva.  After  my  interview  with  my 
Lady  I  will  offer  him  my  condolence.  King  Philip, 
your  grandees  cannot  hope  to  cope  with  an  English 
nobleman  upon  his  own  soil.  Natheless,  he  is  a  dig 
nified  gentleman  and  I  hope  that  his  suit  may  pros 
per  better  in  another  direction." 

The  King  smiled  at  his  conceit,  but  changed  the 
subject. 

"Hatton,"  he  queried,  "what  know  you  of  the 
character  of  Mary  Stuart's  gaoler,  the  keeper  of  the 
Tower?" 


A  Lady  and  a  Lord  183 

"Sir  Amias  Paulet  is  a  confiding  soul,  and  very 
much  of  a  fool,  your  Majesty.  So  gentle  is  his  nature 
that  he  cannot  bear  to  see  even  an  animal  suffer, 
and  his  appointment  as  keeper  of  the  prison  was  in 
sooth  an  act  of  irony  on  the  part  of  the  Queen.  If 
he  had  his  way,  he  would  open  wide  the  doors  and 
turn  the  unfortunate  inmates  out  to  perpetual  free 
dom." 

"It  augurs  well  for  the  plot  to  release  Mary," 
mused  the  King. 

"Nay,  your  Majesty,  there  you  are  mistaken;  for, 
despite  his  kind  heart,  he  is  a  man  of  inflexible  hon 
esty,  and  Elizabeth  chose  him  well,  for  he  would 
cut  off  his  good  right  arm  before  he  would  betray 
his  trust,  no  matter  how  his  heart  might  bleed  at  his 
poor  prisoner's  plight." 

"Hatton,  it  is  our  last  recourse,  for  I  am  deter 
mined  not  to  return  bootless  to  Spain.  Can  you  not 
think  of  some  plan  to  free  the  Queen  of  Scots,  that 
we  might  bear  her  away,  to  Elizabeth's  great  dis 
may." 

"It  must  be  done  through  other  means.  I  have  an 
idea.  Norfolk  is  allowed  to  visit  her  frequently  and 
is  much  in  love  with  her.  We  might  prevail  upon 
him  to  slay  Sir  Amias  by  offer  of  our  aid  to  secure 
him  his  bride;  and  once  she  passed  the  portals  of 
the  Tower  you  could  whisk  her  aboard  of  your  ship 
and  none  would  be  the  wiser." 

"What  of  Norfolk?"  asked  the  King. 

"In  my  capacity  of  Lord  Chancellor  of  the  realm, 
I  would  order  his  imprisonment,  and  would  see  to 
it  that  his  lips  were  sealed  until  I  had  obtained  the 


184  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Queen's  signature  for  his  execution.  You  may  rest 
assured  I  would  lose  no  time  in  delivering  him  to  the 
headsman." 

"By  my  faith,"  said  Philip  II,  "you  should  have 
been  a  Spaniard.  You  make  a  famous  conspirator. 
What  say  you,  Farnese,  to  the  plot  ?" 

The  Duke  of  Parma  shook  his  head. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  answered,  "Norfolk  is  too 
old  a  bird  to  be  caught  with  chaff.  Unless  a  suitable 
guarantee  could  be  given  him  that  his  bride  would  be 
delivered  into  his  hands  he  would  make  no  attempt 
to  free  her,  but  would  rather  carry  the  news  of  your 
overtures  to  Queen  Elizabeth  in  the  hope  of  currying 
favour  at  your  expense  and  advancing  his  cause  by 
ridding  England  of  your  presence." 

"You  have  a  serpent's  wisdom.  Our  hands  are 
tied  in  that  direction,"  grumbled  the  King. 

"Could  we  not  effect  her  release  ourselves,  your 
Highness?"  asked  Alva.  "By  bribing  the  food- 
bearers  from  the  kitchen,  we  might  guise  ourselves 
in  their  uncouth  apparel,  and  muffling  our  faces 
might  gain  access  to  the  Queen's  cell.  The  keepers 
would  not  dare  to  raise  their  hands,  when  once  they 
discovered  your  royal  presence  in  the  Tower,  and  we 
could  most  easily  slay  them,  and  likewise  this  soft 
hearted  fool,  Sir  Amias  Paulet.  Sir  Thomas  could 
so  arrange  that  the  way  might  be  clear  for  our 
escape." 

The  King  shuddered  at  thought  of  exposing  his 
precious  body  to  personal  danger. 

"Nay,  Alva,"  he  said,  "I  am  not  fitted  for  the  ex 
pedition.  We  must  find  some  more  subtle  plan  and 


A  Lady  and  a  Lord  185 

free  the  Scottish  Queen  by  stratagem.  Hatton,  can 
you  not  think  of  a  tool  in  all  the  castle  who  would 
sell  his  very  soul  for  a  suitable  reward?" 

"Pulsifer  Kyd,  the  jester,  would  have  been  the 
man  for  us,  your  Majesty.  He  was  a  privileged 
character  and  had  access  everywhere,  but  he  has  dis 
appeared.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  think  of  another  who 
would  do." 

"Name  me  over  the  list  of  attendants  in  the  suite," 
testily  snapped  the  King,  and  sat  with  a  frown, 
checking  them  off  on  his  fingers  as  the  Chancellor 
named  the  various  servants  in  the  castle. 

He  had  finished  with  the  scullery  maids  and 
kitchen  knaves  and  at  last  called  the  name  of  Anne 
Holcombe,  the  laundress. 

"Stop !"  said  Philip,  as  his  evil  eyes  lit  up  with  an 
expression  of  delight.  "I  have  the  key  to  the  solution 
of  our  plans.  Parma,  can  you  have  the  ship  in  read 
iness  to  sail  for  Spain  with  to-morrow  evening's 
tide?" 

"Your  Majesty,  our  sailors  have  been  awaiting 
your  commands  this  week  or  more,  and  it  but  needs 
the  unfurling  of  the  sails  and  a  steady  breeze  to 
speed  us  swiftly  on  our  way." 

"Good,  good !"  chuckled  the  monarch.  "After  all, 
I  have  a  mind  to  disguise  myself,  and  we  will  yet 
free  Mary  from  her  toils,  and  no  one  will  be  harmed. 

"Hatton,  I  desire  to  break  my  fast.  Will  you  give 
orders  that  I  may  be  served.  Attend  us  this  even 
ing  in  my  apartments  and  we  will  submit  to  you  our 
perfected  plan." 


186  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Hatton  bowed  low  and  left  the  king,  who  turned 
to  the  Admiral,  saying : 

"Alexander,  do  you  have  the  decks  scoured  and 
the  ship  put  in  proper  condition  for  the  reception 
of  a  royal  dame.  Whether  we  fail  or  not,  we  will 
have  to  leave  the  shores  of  England,  and  that  most 
speedily.  If  we  are  unsuccessful,  I  have  one  last  re 
source,  the  German  Princess,  though  her  domains 
are  not  as  broad  as  I  would  wish.  Alva,  unfold  me 
that  map  of  the  Netherlands  and  let  us  see  the  width 
of  the  Dutch  possessions  that  we  might  add  to  the 
Spanish  crown." 

The  Duke  took  down  the  map  and  spread  it  out 
before  his  King,  and  the  three  conspirators  were 
deep  in  its  perusal  when  the  attendants  arrived  with 
His  Majesty's  breakfast. 

Meanwhile,  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  betook  himself 
to  his  own  rooms  and  summoned  his  barber,  who 
shaved  him  and  dressed  his  hair  and  bathed  him  in 
much  scented  water.  He  then  garbed  himself  in  an 
elegant  suit  of  white  silken  doublet  and  hose,  fasten 
ed  his  satin  slippers  with  enormous  buckles  of  gold, 
clasped  his  jerkin  with  handsome  jeweled  brooches, 
and  putting  on  a  broad  hat  with  drooping  plume 
that  matched  his  dazzling  apparel,  he  threw  a  rich 
cloak  about  his  shoulders  and  set  out  in  quest  of 
his  lady-love. 

Anne  Hathaway  sat  on  her  favourite  bench  in  the 
Queen's  garden  and  was  thinking  of  the  poor  jes 
ter's  sad  plight  and  wondering  if  he  would  recover, 
when  suddenly  she  espied  the  gorgeous  figure  of  the 
Chancellor  as  he  entered  the  court  and  made  his  way 


A  Lady  and  a  Lord  187 

across  the  terrace  toward  her  seat.  The  lines  of  her 
pretty  mouth  set  in  rigid  determination  and  she 
moved  to  the  centre  of  the  bench,  spreading  her 
skirts  so  that  there  would  be  no  room  for  Sir 
Thomas  to  sit  beside  her. 

The  Lord  hastened  his  step  at  the  sight  of  the 
maiden,  and  arriving  in  front  of  her  station  he  doff 
ed  his  hat  and  with  a  sweeping  bow  saluted  her. 

"Prithee,  Mistress  Hathaway,  I  am  in  great  for 
tune.  I  did  not  expect  to  find  you  here." 

"For  whom  were  you  looking,  then,  Sir  Thomas? 
Methought  you  gazed  anxiously  about  as  you  en 
tered  the  garden,"  queried  the  girl,  an  odd  twinkle 
coming  into  her  eyes,  for  she  was  determined  to  play 
with  this  gay  deceiver  as  a  cat  with  a  mouse  ere  she 
placed  him  on  the  rack  of  his  own  duplicity. 

Hatton's  face  colored,  but  he  determined  upon  a 
bold  stroke. 

"Well,  to  be  frank,  my  Lady,  I  sought  you.  I 
will  not  be  tossed  on  the  sea  of  hope  and  plunged  in 
the  depths  of  despair  any  longer,  but  have  come  to 
learn  my  fate." 

Anne  suddenly  changed  the  subject. 

"Why  do  you  appear  in  this  gorgeous  array,  my 
Lord?  Do  you  serve  the  Queen  at  some  special 
audience  in  the  throne-room  to-day?" 

"Nay,  I  wait  upon  a  lady  fairer  than  Her  Majesty. 
I  attend  one  who  is  a  greater  Queen  to  me,  for  she 
is  the  Queen  of  my  heart." 

"See,"  said  Anne,  suddenly  pointing  to  the  lower 
terrace;  "a  couple  walk  in  the  castle  yard.  They 
have  a  familiar  look." 


188  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  Chancellor,  in  despair,  turned  his  eyes  in  the 
direction  indicated. 

"It  is  Master  Shakespeare  and  the  Italian  maiden, 
Juliet  Florio,"  he  said. 

"So  it  is.  What  think  you  of  the  poet?  Does  he 
not  write  beautiful  plays  ?" 

"They  are  passable,"  said  the  agonized  lover; 
"but  you  keep  me  from  my  purpose.  Why  do  you 
so  tantalize  me  with  your  tricks?  You  know  full 
well  what  I  would  say  to  you — that  my  veins  are 
bursting  with  my  love  for  you ;  that  I  am  longing  to 
take  you  in  my  arms  and  crush  your  dear  form  in  my 
close  embrace ;  and  I  do  here  and  now  most  humbly 
offer  you  my  name  and  rank,  and  on  my  bended 
knee  do  ask  you  to  become  my  wife." 

Anne  looked  coldly  at  him,  as  he  knelt  at  her  feet, 
and  tapped  her  foot  impatiently  upon  the  gravel 
walk. 

"Do  I  not  mistake  your  meaning,  my  Lord?"  she 
said.  "Perhaps  when  you  said  'wife'  your  tongue 
tripped,  for  I  am  certain  you  meant  'slave/  " 

Hatton  looked  at  her  in  astonishment. 

"Nay,  I  meant  'wife/  my  true  and  honoured  wife, 
Anne." 

She  pierced  him  through  and  through  with  her 
accusing  eyes  as  she  answered : 

"Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  I  fear  your  love  would 
wane,  and  ere  long  my  white  shoulders  might  bear 
the  cruel  marks  of  your  lash,  marks  similar  to — well, 
we  will  say  to  those  on  the  back  of  Pulsifer  Kyd, 
the  court  fool." 


A  Lady  and  a  Lord  189 

The  Chancellor's  face  turned  livid  and  his  jaw 
dropped  as  he  arose  and  tremblingly  gasped : 

"What  do  you  mean,  girl?" 

"I  mean  that  you  cannot  pull  the  wool  over  my 
eyes  as  you  have  done  over  those  of  Her  Majesty 
and  the  whole  court.  Your  wickedness  has  found 
you  out,  my  Lord,  and  I  thank  God  that  I  am  spared 
the  fate  of  becoming  your  victim.  Nay,"  she  said, 
as  a  murderous  gleam  came  into  his  eyes  and  he 
looked  stealthily  around  the  garden,  "you  may  close 
my  lips,  but  it  will  be  your  undoing,  for  we  are  pre 
pared.  A  half-dozen  of  us  in  the  castle  hold  your 
secret  and  the  first  hostile  movement  on  your  part 
will  be  the  signal  for  your  exposure  to  the  Queen." 

"How  found  you  this  out?"  stammered  the  Lord. 

"We  have  your  fool  in  our  keeping." 

"The  villain  lies ;  he  bears  me  malice." 

"Nay,  Sir  Thomas,  we  have  other  proof.  Your 
plot  was  overheard  the  day  of  the  Queen's  festival, 
and  your  murderous  attempt  upon  the  poet's  life  was 
foiled." 

The  Chancellor  grasped  the  arm  of  the  bench,  and 
mastering  his  voice  with  a  mighty  effort,  made  a 
final  appeal  to  the  maiden. 

"All's  fair  in  love,  Mistress  Anne,"  he  said.  "I 
swear  to  you  that  I  was  so  drunk  with  my  affection 
for  you  that  it  mattered  not  who  stood  in  my  way. 
I  would  have  killed  the  Queen  herself  and  poisoned 
the  whole  court,  if  by  so  doing  I  might  have  brought 
you  to  my  arms.  Let  me  plead  the  demon  of  jeal 
ousy  as  my  excuse  and  beg  you  to  reconsider  your 
decision.  In  the  temple  of  my  love  I  can  atone  for 


190  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

my  sin  and  by  my  good  actions  for  the  rest  of  my 
life  live  down  this  error  of  my  passion.  Besides, 
you  cannot  overlook  the  fact  that  I  am  one  of  the 
highest  nobles  in  this  mighty  realm." 

"  'Tis  notorious  throughout  the  court,  Master 
Hatton,  that  Elizabeth  created  you  Lord  Chancellor 
because  your  graceful  dancing  took  her  fancy  one 
day  when  she  was  in  a  generous  mood.  'Twas  a 
strange  leap  to  fame  and  fortune,  but  I  would  have 
you  understand  once  and  for  all  that  when  I  wed, 
my  husband  will  be  a  man  and  not  a  jumping-jack." 

The  Chancellor's  face  paled  at  her  words,  and, 
realizing  that  his  suit  was  hopeless,  he  threatened 
her  in  his  rage. 

"Take  care,  my  Lady,"  said  he.  "Despite  your 
mockery,  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  is  a  great  power  at 
court.  'Twould  be  well  not  to  anger  him  too  deeply. 
You  had  best  put  a  curb  upon  your  tongue,  wench, 
or  you  will  rue  the  day  that  you  spurned  the  offer  of 
my  heart  and  hand. 

"My  rejection  is  rendered  less  bitter  by  the  sight 
of  yon  poet  billing  and  cooing  with  the  Italian  minx. 
It  must  be  a  sorry  vision  for  your  eyes,  Mistress 
Hathaway.  However,  I  assure  you  that  I  will  be 
fully  revenged." 

Anne  answered  him  with  a  merry  peal  of  laughter. 

"My  Lord/'  she  said,  "your  neck  will  be  safe  from 
the  executioner's  block  so  long  as  you  adhere  to  my 
conditions.  But  the  moment  that  you  fail  to  keep 
faith  in  the  slightest  particular  Her  Majesty  will 
be  informed,  and  your  head  will  part  company  with 
your  shoulders  as  surely  as  the  bright  sun  shines 
upon  this  lovely  terrace." 


A  Lady  and  a  Lord  191 

Hatton  stood  sullenly  on  the  walk,  and  his  droop 
ing  form  and  dejected  air  acknowledged  his  defeat. 

"These  are  my  terms,"  she  said :  "You  will  rein 
state  the  jester  as  soon  as  he  is  well,  and  will  pub 
licly  proclaim  that  you  had  mislaid  your  purse,  and 
tender  him  your  apology.  You  will  keep  a  still 
tongue  in  your  head  and  will  not  slander  Master 
Shakespeare  or  his  friends  to  the  Queen  or  her  cour 
tiers;  and  you  will  bestow  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
pounds  out  of  your  own  private  fortune  upon  the 
laundress,  Anne  Holcombe,  for  her  devoted  care  and 
tender  nursing  of  Pulsifer  Kyd  during  a  long  and 
wasting  fever.  In  this  way,  my  Lord,  you  may  live 
to  a  good  old  age,  and  somewhat  atone  for  the  wick 
edness  of  your  past  life." 

"Your  conditions  will  be  fulfilled,"  he  said  hum 
bly.  "But  must  I  give  up  the  one  cherished  hope  of 
my  existence?" 

Anne  Hathaway  arose  with  flashing  eyes. 

"You  will  leave  me,  Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  now  and 
forever.  And  if  you  dare  to  address  me  again, 
either  in  public  or  in  private,  I  will  lay  my  riding- 
whip,  my  gauntlet,  or  even  my  naked  hand,  if  the 
conditions  so  demand,  across  your  cowardly  lips  and 
straightway  will  denounce  you  to  the  Queen." 

She  stamped  her  foot  and  pointed  toward  the  cas 
tle  wall. 

"GO !"  she  commanded. 

The  Chancellor  dropped  his  eyes  and  hesitated  for 
a  moment,  then  turned  and  slunk  across  the  court 
yard  and  passed  forever  out  of  the  maiden's  life. 


CHAPTER  XV 
THE  LAUNDRESS  AND  THE  RUFF 

Anne  Holcombe  tiptoed  across  the  floor  of  her 
laundry  and  gently  lifted  the  curtain  of  the  jester's 
retreat.  She  bore  a  steaming  bowl  of  broth  and  a 
large  spoon  with  which  to  administer  it,  but  she 
stood  for  a  moment  in  hesitation  as  she  saw  that  the 
fool  was  soundly  sleeping.  At  last  she  crossed  to 
his  couch  and  shook  him  gently,  but  he  remained 
unconscious  of  her  touch.  She  determined  to  await 
his  natural  awakening,  and  setting  the  bowl  on  the 
tub  by  his  bed  she  returned  to  her  work.  She  was 
bending  over  her  ironing-table  when  she  heard  a 
stealthy  step  at  the  door,  and  two  heavily  cloaked 
figures  crossed  her  threshold. 

"This  must  be  the  place,  Alva,"  whispered  the 
taller  man;  and  espying  the  trembling  girl  he  beck 
oned  her  to  approach  as  his  companion  turned  and 
carefully  closed  the  door  behind  them. 

Anne  stood  motionless  in  her  terror  at  their  mys 
terious  movements,  until  the  tall  stranger  dropped 
the  cloak  with  which  he  was  muffling  his  face  and 
displayed  the  cruel  features  of  the  crafty  Spanish 
King  to  her  astonished  vision. 

The  laundress  stepped  forward  and  dropped  on 
her  knees  at  the  monarch's  feet. 


The  Laundress  and  the  Ruff  193 

"S-sh !"  he  said,  as  he  laid  his  finger  on  his  lips, 
"are  there  any  prying  ears  at  hand  to  overhear  our 
speech?" 

"Nay,  your  Majesty,"  she  answered.  "But  why 
is  the  establishment  of  a  poor  laundress  honoured  by 
this  visit?" 

"Listen,  maid,"  he  said,  as  he  clutched  her  wrist 
and  raised  her  to  her  feet.  "If  you  will  serve  us 
faithfully  your  future  is  assured.  '.Tis  in  your 
power  to  earn  five  hundred  pounds  in  a  short  space 
of  time  and  with  little  trouble  to  yourself.  What 
say  you  ?" 

"Why,  'tis  a  fortune,"  murmured  the  girl.  "I 
could  wed  my  guardsman  and  we  might  live  in  com 
fort  for  the  rest  of  our  days.  How  may  I  aid  your 
Majesty?" 

The  King  looked  cautiously  around  the  room. 

"Alva,  take  your  station  at  the  window,"  he  said, 
"and  warn  us  quickly  if  an  unwelcome  visitor  does 
approach."  He  cast  aside  his  dignity  and  seated 
himself  upon  the  ironing-table,  bending  over  and 
fixing  the  girl  with  his  piercing  eyes  as  he  unfolded 
his  plan. 

"We  would  free  the  Queen  of  Scots,"  he  said, 
"and  bear  her  with  us  back  to  Spain.  It  will  be  a 
very  simple  matter  with  your  aid." 

"Why,  your  Majesty,  I  fail  to  see  how  I  can  help 
you.  Besides,  it  would  be  treachery  to  my  Queen." 

"Nonsense,  nonsense!  Elizabeth  desires  her  to 
escape  as  much  as  we,  but  does  not  dare  to  set  her 
at  liberty  of  her  own  free  will ;  and  think,  girl,  think 
of  the  fortune  I  will  place  at  your  command.  And  I 
assure  you  there  will  be  no  risk." 


194  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  laundress  clutched  her  throbbing  breast. 

"What  is  the  plan,  your  Majesty?"  she  asked. 

"Do  you  wash  the  linen  of  Mary  Stuart?"  asked 
the  King. 

"Yes,  your  Majesty,  all  the  clothing  of  the  royal 
household  and  of  the  prisoners  in  the  tower  is 
brought  to  my  laundry." 

"Hast  any  pieces  of  her  apparel  in  your  possession 
at  present?" 

*'Yes,  I  have  just  ironed  her  ruff  and  intended 
to  deliver  it  in  person  to-day." 

"Good,  good!"  chuckled  the  King.  "The  fates 
are  with  us  in  this  adventure  and  I  feel  certain  that 
our  success  is  assured." 

"But  still  I  fail  to  understand  how  I  enter  into 
your  plans." 

The  King  laughed  happily. 

"My  girl,"  he  said,  "'tis  the  simplest  thing  in 
the  world.  When  the  dial  in  the  court-yard  indi 
cates  the  hour  of  two,  do  you  take  up  the  ruff  and 
pursue  your  way  to  Mary's  prison.  The  sleepy  gaol 
ers  will  suspect  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  in  your 
customary  visit.  When  you  have  entered  the  pres 
ence  of  the  Queen  of  Scots,  delay  your  departure 
under  pretense  of  gathering  the  soiled  linen,  and 
quickly  whisper  in  her  ear  to  effect  a  change  of  gar 
ments  with  yourself.  Your  shawl  will  conceal  her 
royal  features  and  as  she  is  of  your  identical  build, 
she  may  pass  safely  out  of  the  Tower,  bearing  her 
bundle  of  linen,  and  will  fall  into  the  hands  of  her 
waiting  friends  who  will  be  stationed  at  your  laun 
dry  in  the  guise  of  guardsmen  of  Elizabeth.  Note 


The  Laundress  and  the  Ruff  195 

these  details  carefully,  girl,  for  repetition  to  the 
Queen.  They  will  accompany  her  through  the 
courtyard,  and  to  curious  eyes  it  will  simply 
appear  to  be  a  love  journey  of  two  gay  soldiers  and  a 
coquetting  maid. 

"You  will  quietly  remain  in  the  Tower  in  her 
place,  and,  long  ere  your  discovery,  my  gallant  ship 
will  have  breasted  the  waves  of  the  Thames,  and 
the  Scottish  Queen  and  the  Spanish  King  will  be 
speeding  on  their  way  to  the  land  of  the  Righteous 
Faith  and  a  conjugal  throne." 

"But,  your  Majesty,  what  is  to  become  of  me? 
If  I  am  found  in  the  prison,  the  Queen  will  have 
me  beheaded." 

"Nay,  nay,  girl,  we  have  looked  out  for  that, 
and  will  better  reward  a  faithful  service.  You  will 
be  discovered  by  Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  who  will  read 
you  a  severe  lecture  before  the  gaoler,  but  who  will 
privily  hand  you  the  purse  containing  the  five  hun 
dred  pounds,  and  will  dismiss  you  to  your  quarters 
with  a  reprimand.  He  is  all-powerful  with  Eliza 
beth,  and  she  will  be  compelled  to  wink  at  this 
strategic  move  of  her  Catholic  brother-in-law,  while 
you  will  be  free  to  live  a  life  of  ease  in  the  arms 
of  your  lover." 

"What  guarantee  have  I,  your  Majesty,  that  I 
will  be  set  free?" 

The  King's  eyes  flashed  as  he  slid  clumsily  from 
the  table  and  stood  upon  the  floor  before  the  girl. 

"Is  not  my  royal  word  enough  for  the  empress 
of  the  laundry?"  he  asked  angrily.  "Think  you 
that  Philip  II,  King  of  Spain,  would  seek  the  dwell- 


196  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

ing  of  a  humble  menial  of  the  English  court  and 
take  her  into  his  confidence,  if  he  did  not  intend  to 
carry  out  his  compact.  'Twould  profit  me  not,  girl, 
to  have  you  killed ;  and  besides  the  Lord  Chancellor 
may  have  further  use  for  you,  if  you  prove  yourself 
shrewd  in  this  adventure.  Here,"  he  said,  as  he 
pulled  a  small  purse  from  his  belt  and  tossed  it  to 
the  abashed  maiden,  "is  an  earnest  of  my  good  faith. 
'Twill  be  a  considerable  addition  to  the  sum  already 
promised.  Can  we  count  upon  you,  wench  ?" 

The  laundress  curtseyed  low. 

"Your  Majesty,"  said  she,  "I  will  serve  you  faith 
fully,  and  will  bear  a  secret  tongue.  I  am  not  proof 
against  the  argument  of  the  purse,  and  I  believe 
'twill  be  an  act  of  justice  if  the  poor  Scottish  Queen 
is  removed  forever  from  the  shadow  of  the  scaffold, 
that  she  may  live  out  her  allotted  life  in  a  foreign 
clime." 

"You  are  a  discreet  maiden,"  chuckled  the  King, 
"and  do  much  to  raise  my  spirits  by  your  entrance 
into  our  conspiracy.  I  wish  you  happiness  with 
your  guardsman.  Have  you  the  directions  for  Mary 
straight  in  your  brain  ?" 

"I  understand  them  fully,"  she  answered. 

The  King  stepped  toward  the  door. 

"Alva,"  he  called,  "let  us  take  our  departure  to 
the  castle,  where  we  may  prepare  for  our  flitting 
this  afternoon." 

The  noble  opened  the  door  and  stealthily  entered 
the  court-yard.  Philip  followed  him,  but  turned 
at  the  threshold. 


The  Laundress  and  the  Ruff  197 

"I  bid  the  future  Queen  of  Scots  farewell,"  he 
said;  and  with  a  hearty  chuckle  he  bowed  low  and 
was  gone. 

Anne  Holcombe  stood  for  a  moment  in  the  cen 
tre  of  her  laundry,  and  could  hardly  realize  that 
she  was  awake  and  had  not  dreamed  this  strange 
interview  with  the  uncouth  King.  The  sight  of  his 
purse  tightly  clutched  in  her  hand  proved  to  her 
the  reality  of  his  visit,  and  she  gave  a  happy  laugh 
as  she  felt  its  jingling  contents.  Of  a  sudden,  how 
ever,  her  face  paled  in  terror  as  she  thought  of  the 
jester  behind  the  screen,  whose  presence  she  had 
entirely  forgotten  in  her  confusion  at  the  advent  of 
the  cloaked  figure. 

She  drew  a  gasping  breath  and  ran  quickly  to 
his  retreat.  He  seemed  to  be  in  a  state  of  complete 
stupefaction,  and  she  shook  him  long  and  earnestly 
before  he  awoke  and  uttered  a  sleepy  demand  for 
his  breakfast.  She  patiently  fed  him  the  broth,  and 
when  he  had  sunk  back  again  upon  his  pillow  she 
ran  to  her  table  and  resumed  her  ironing,  not  with 
out  first  concealing  Philip's  purse  in  her  bosom. 

A  half-hour  later  Roger  Covert  darted  hastily 
into  the  laundry  and  pressed  a  hearty  kiss  upon  the 
lips  of  his  buxom  sweetheart. 

She  ran  around  the  table  and  shook  her  finger  at 
him  over  the  pile  of  snowy  linen. 

"I  am  in  no  mood  for  love-making  to-day,"  she 
said.  "I  have  many  pieces  to  iron  and  must  carry 
this  lace  collar  to  the  Scottish  Queen.  Take  your 
self  away,  Master  Covert,  and  if  you'll  come  again 
when  night  falls  I  will  tell  you  something  that  will 
make  you  happy." 


198  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Roger  laughed. 

"How  is  my  wise  friend,  the  fool,  faring?"  he 
asked. 

"See  for  yourself,"  pertly  replied  the  maiden, 
and  Roger  stepped  behind  the  screen.  At  his  en 
trance,  the  eyes  of  the  jester  opened  and  he  looked 
at  Covert  shrewdly,  motioning  with  his  head  for 
the  guardsman  to  approach. 

Roger  stepped  to  the  side  of  his  couch,  saying : 

"Why,  the  colour  is  coming  back  to  your  cheeks. 
By  my  faith,  you  are  much  improved." 

"S-sh !"  cautioned  the  jester  in  a  low  voice ;  "Mas 
ter  Covert,  incline  your  ear  to  my  lips.  I  have 
something  of  great  importance  to  impart  to  you, 
but  do  not  start  or  cry  out  or  otherwise  alarm  the 
maiden  at  her  tasks." 

Covert  wonderingly  bent  his  head,  and  the  fool 
spoke  to  him  in  an  excited  whisper : 

"I  was  awakened  from  a  deep  sleep  this  morning 
by  the  sound  of  a  closing  door  and  men's  voices 
in  the  laundry.  Although  they  spoke  in  lowered 
tones,  I  heard  distinctly  every  word  of  a  compact 
that  they  made  with  the  pretty  laundress.  The  visi 
tors  were  none  other  than  King  Philip  and  the  Duke 
of  Alva.  Alva  stood  on  guard  while  the  King  per 
suaded  the  maiden  to  enter  his  service  by  the  offer 
of  a  fat  purse.  She  is  to  bear  a  ruff  to  the  impris 
oned  Queen  at  two  o'clock  to-day,  and  in  the  Tower 
will  change  her  habit  for  that  of  Mary  Stuart,  who, 
in  the  guise  of  the  laundress,  will  speed  to  freedom 
and  will  seek  this  place  and  her  waiting  friends, 
who  will  quickly  bear  her  aboard  ship  and  set  sail 
for  Spain." 


The  Laundress  and  the  Ruff  199 

"Great  God!  This  is  treachery,"  muttered  the 
soldier. 

"Softly,  softly,"  whispered  Pulsifer.  "The 
maiden  serves  the  King  for  love  of  you.  She  is  to 
receive  five  hundred  pounds,  and  through  Sir 
Thomas  Hatton's  influence  will  escape  punishment 
and  keep  her  laundry.  She  pities  Mary  Stuart  in 
her  prison,  and  hopes  to  wed  you  when  she  receives 
the  purse." 

"Anne  Holcombe  must  be  spared,"  said  Roger. 
"Natheless,  I  must  warn  the  Queen." 

"Speed  rather  to  your  master.  Mayhap  he  will 
find  a  way  to  block  their  plans  by  informing  Eliza 
beth's  maid  of  honour,  who  will  be  easier  of 
approach." 

"Tis  a  good  idea,  Kyd,  and  I  will  act  upon  it. 
The  hour  draws  nigh,  and  I  must  hasten.  Do  you 
still  feign  drowsiness  and  I  will  make  my  excuses 
to  my  love." 

He  left  the  bedside  of  the  fool,  and  crossing  to 
where  the  maid  was  busily  engaged  in  piling  up  the 
finished  garments,  he  snatched  another  kiss,  saying : 
"The  jester  sleeps,  and  you  do  not  desire  my  pres 
ence.  I'll  say  farewell  until  to-night";  and  he 
quickly  left  the  room.  The  girl's  suspicions  were 
not  aroused,  as  she  was  anxious  to  be  alone,  and  to 
have  the  coast  clear  for  her  departure  for  the  Tower. 

Roger  hastened  toward  Shakespeare's  apartment, 
but  found  him  on  the  terrace  conversing  with  Juliet 
Florio.  He  apologized  for  his  intrusion  and  asked 
for  a  few  moments'  conversation  apart  with  his  mas- 


200  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

ter.  Shakespeare  excused  himself  to  the  maiden, 
and  Roger  drew  him  to  one  side,  telling  him  quickly 
all  he  had  heard  at  the  laundry. 

"I  came  to  you,  master,  because  you  forbade  me 
to  reveal  Sir  Thomas  Hatton's  plot  upon  your  life, 
and  I  feared  to  act  without  your  instruction." 

"This  is  a  different  affair,"  said  Shakespeare, 
half  to  himself.  "I  am  sworn  to  protect  Her  Ma 
jesty,  and  who  knows  but  that  the  escape  of  Mary 
Stuart  and  her  union  with  the  Spanish  King  would 
not  result  in  the  fall  and  execution  of  our  Queen? 
My  duty  is  plain.  I  must  warn  Elizabeth.  But  the 
minutes  fly  and  I  know  not  how  to  approach  her 
in  time." 

"Seek  her  favourite  hand-maiden,  master.  She 
has  access  to  her  at  all  times  and  the  conspiracy  may 
be  blocked.  And  if  I  may  have  been  of  any  small 
service  to  you  during  the  last  few  years,  I  beg  you 
thereby  to  plead  for  the  release  of  my  sweetheart, 
Anne  Holcombe." 

"Mistress  Hathaway  may  deny  me  speech,  Roger. 
She  has  acted  strangely  of  late." 

"Nay,  master,  you  must  approach  her  boldy  and 
command  her  attention." 

"'Tis  the  only  way,"  sighed  Will,  and  he  dis 
missed  Covert,  and  accompanied  Juliet  to  the  apart 
ment  of  her  father.  He  then  turned  his  steps  toward 
the  Queen's  garden. 

As  he  entered  the  enclosure,  he  saw  Anne  Hatha 
way  in  the  midst  of  a  bevy  of  court  ladies  who  were 
romping  on  the  grass  and  making  the  most  of  an 
hour  of  leisure.  He  strode  across  the  walk  and 
boldly  addressed  them : 


The  Laundress  and  the  Ruff  201 

"If  her  companions  will  permit  me,  I  would  have 
a  moment's  private  conversation  with  the  Lady 
Anne  Hathaway." 

The  ladies  chorused  a  laughing  assent  and  quickly 
ran  away,  leaving  Anne  standing  on  the  grass  as 
rigid  as  though  she  were  a  marble  statue. 

"I  hope  you  will  forgive  my  intrusion,"  said 
Shakespeare,  "but  I  have  come  to  speak  to  you  on  a 
matter  of  vital  importance." 

The  maid  surveyed  him  coldly  from  head  to  foot 
for  a  moment,  then  turned  upon  her  heel  and  calmly 
walked  away. 

The  poet  flushed,  but  ran  quickly  to  her  side. 

"Mistress  Hathaway,"  he  pleaded  eagerly,  "I 
speak  not  on  my  own  account;  but  the  life  of  the 
Queen  is  in  danger.  My  serving-man  has  unearthed 
a  plot  to  free  the  Queen  of  Scots,  and  it  was  neces 
sary  to  act  at  once ;  that  is  why  I  sought  you  here." 

Anne  stopped  short  and  turned  on  him  in  amaze 
ment. 

"Why  do  you  come  to  me?"  she  asked.  "You 
should  have  gone  to  Her  Majesty  at  once." 

"To  save  time,  for  moments  are  precious.  You 
may  gain  her  ear  more  quickly  and  break  the  news 
to  her  without  alarming  her." 

The  girl  clasped  her  hands  in  perplexity. 

"Tell  me,"  she  said,  "the  particulars  of  this 
conspiracy." 

"The  King  of  Spain  and  one  of  his  nobles  visited 
the  Queen's  laundress  this  morning  and  arranged 
with  her  to  bear  a  ruff  to  Mary  Stuart  in  the  after 
noon.  She  is  to  clothe  the  Queen  in  her  apparel  and 


202  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

to  remain  in  prison  in  her  stead  while  she  goes  to 
her  freedom  and  the  Spanish  King." 

"And  does  their  plot  include  Her  Majesty?" 

"Not  at  present.  They  are  to  set  sail  at  once  for 
Spain." 

"God  be  praised  for  that!"  said  Anne.  "The 
Queen  is  not  safe  while  the  Catholic  monster  re 
mains  at  court." 

"I  beg  you  to  inform  Queen  Elizabeth  at  once, 
Mistress  Hathaway." 

"Do  you  know  the  hour  set  for  the  intended 
escape?" 

"The  laundress  is  to  leave  her  tubs  when  the  sun's 
shadow  falls  upon  the  figure  two  on  the  dial." 

"Then  we  must  indeed  make  haste.  '.Tis  now 
past  one  o'clock.  You  may  trust  me  to  have  it  so 
arranged  that  the  ship  will  sail  without  the  Scottish 
Queen,"  said  Anne,  as  she  gathered  up  her  skirt 
and  turned  toward  the  palace. 

"Mistress  Hathaway,  I  crave  one  boon  of  you 
ere  you  depart,"  said  the  poet;  and  she  stood  still, 
as  a  tremor  of  vague  expectancy  thrilled  her  heart. 
"As  a  reward  for  his  revelation  of  the  Spaniard's 
conspiracy,  I  beg  that  you  will  intercede  with  Queen 
Elizabeth  to  spare  the  laundress,  Anne  Holcombe, 
who  is  my  guardsman's  sweetheart,  and  who  rea 
lizes  not  the  wrong  she  does." 

Anne  turned  once  more  toward  Will  Shakespeare. 

"If  it  lies  in  my  power  the  girl  shall  go  free," 
she  answered;  "and  I  most  humbly  thank  you  on 
behalf  of  my  Queen  for  your  information  and  your 
interest  in  her  welfare."  She  dropped  him  a  low 


The  Laundress  and  the  Ruff  203 

curtsey  and  departed,  leaving  him  standing  on  the 
walk  with  his  cap  crushed  in  his  hand  and  looking 
with  loving  but  despairing  eyes  after  her  vanishing 
form.  She  entered  the  castle  and  hurried  to  the 
Queen's  chamber.  She  raised  her  hand  to  tap  upon 
the  door,  when  suddenly  a  strange  thought  struck 
her,  and  she  dropped  her  arm  and  hastened  to  her 
own  room. 

"Why  not  manage  this  affair  myself?"  she  mused, 
as  she  stood  excitedly  before  her  mirror  and  clasped 
the  fastenings  of  her  cloak  about  her  throat.  "If  I 
tell  the  Queen,  she'll  summon  Hatton  and  rouse  the 
whole  court,  and  she  so  dearly  loves  a  fuss  that  to 
keep  her  favour  we,  her  maidens,  will  have  to  indulge 
in  hysterics  for  a  week.  Let  me  see.  I  must  com 
pose  myself  and  wait  until  the  laundress  leaves  for 
the  prison,  then  I  will  follow  close  upon  her  heels. 
'Twill  be  time  enough  to  inform  Her  Majesty  when 
Mary's  wings  are  clipped." 

Shortly  after  two  o'clock,  Anne  Holcombe  was 
admitted  to  the  Tower  and  the  gaoler  opened  Mary 
Stuart's  cell  and  locked  her  in  with  the  Queen,  lazily 
pacing  up  and  down  the  corridor  until  he  should 
be  summoned  to  let  the  maiden  out  with  her  bundle 
of  soiled  linen. 

She  had  scarcely  climbed  the  stairs  when  Anne 
Hathaway  clanged  the  knocker  of  the  prison  door 
and  commanded  the  keeper  to  summon  Sir  Amias 
Paulet.  The  man,  recognizing  one  of  the  Queen's 
ladies,  hurried  to  the  noble's  lodging,  and  in  a 
moment  the  royal  gaoler  appeared  in  the  hallway. 
When  he  saw  Anne  he  smiled  indulgently,  for  she 


204  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

had  ever  been  a  favourite  of  his,  and  he  welcomed 
her  cordially. 

"To  what  am  I  indebted  for  this  call  ?"  he  asked. 
{  Tis  seldom  I  am  honoured  by  a  visit  from  one  of 
the  fair  sex." 

"O  Sir  Amias,  Sir  Amias,"  whispered  the  maiden, 
"there  is  a  wicked  plot  afoot.  The  laundress  who 
has  just  gone  upstairs  with  a  freshly  ironed  ruff 
for  your  prisoner  intends  to  take  her  place,  and 
Mary  Stuart  will  soon  come  down  disguised  in  the 
woman's  habit.  Stop  her,  I  pray  you,  and  save  the 
throne  of  our  Queen." 

The  keeper  of  the  Tower  held  up  his  hands  in 
horror. 

"Poor  woman!"  he  said.  "Why  did  you  tell  me 
this  ?  Her  neck  is  even  now  in  danger  of  the  heads 
man's  axe.  'Twere  better  far  that  she  escaped. 
'Twould  spare  Her  Majesty's  conscience  a  heavy 
burden." 

"My  Lord,  you  must  not  let  your  tender  heart 
stand  between  you  and  your  duty.  We  are  both 
servitors  of  Elizabeth  and  may  not  prove  false  to 
our  trust." 

"True,  true,"  replied  Sir  Amias,  and  hurried  to 
the  door  of  the  prison. 

The  laundress  came  down  the  stairs,  bearing  a 
large  bundle  on  her  shoulder.  Her  shawl  was 
pinned  around  her  head  and  her  face  was  almost 
concealed  by  the  arm  that  crossed  it  to  support  her 
burden.  The  gaolers  scarcely  wasted  a  glance  in 
her  direction  as  she  passed  down  the  hallway. 


The  Laundress  and  the  Ruff  205 

She  neared  the  door  and  her  steps  quickened.  Sir 
Amias  stepped  in  front  of  her,  saying : 

"The  laundress  bears  a  heavy  load  to-day." 

She  nodded,  and  was  about  to  pass  on,  but  he 
seized  her  arm  and  clasped  it  tightly. 

"Surely  those  white  hands  were  not  meant  to  be 
dipped  in  steaming  suds,  your  Majesty,"  he  said, 
as  he  pulled  aside  her  shawl  and  disclosed  the  fea 
tures  of  the  Queen  of  Scots. 

Mary  Stuart  said  never  a  word,  but  dropping  the 
clothing  she  faced  about  and  walked  calmly  up  the 
stairs  to  her  prison  cell. 


CHAPTER  XVI 
THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GUARD 

Three  months  had  elapsed  since  Mary  Stuart's 
attempted  escape  and  the  flight  of  the  Spanish  King. 
The  dignity  of  Her  Majesty's  court  had  been  some 
what  relaxed.  The  daily  audiences  in  the  throne- 
room  were  dispensed  with  for  a  time,  and  many  of 
the  courtiers  left  the  castle  at  intervals  for  short  hol 
idays  in  the  metropolis,  or  to  visit  their  estates; 
while  the  Queen  took  a  much-needed  rest,  spending 
a  great  portion  of  her  time  in  her  garden,  where  she 
was  often  attended  by  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  though 
her  ladies  were  always  present  at  the  interviews. 

Juliet  Florio  (as  we  will  still  call  her)  was  made 
happy  by  the  return  of  her  husband,  who  had  at 
tained  his  majority,  and  who  awaited  but  the  re 
sumption  of  the  affairs  of  state  to  formally  disclose 
his  marriage  to  the  Queen.  The  young  people  lived 
a  blissful  existence  and  Henry  sadly  neglected  his 
friends,  Essex,  and  Will  Shakespeare,  though  they 
occasionally  took  him  away  from  his  wife's  side  for 
an  expedition  with  them  to  the  city,  jokingly  telling 
him  that  Mistress  Wrio>thesley  would  tire  of  him  if 
he  so  constantly  inflicted  his  presence  upon  her. 

Christmas  day,  in  the  year  1586,  dawned  bright 
and  clear,  but  cold,  and  when  the  hand  of  the  clock 


The  Captain  of  the  Guard  207 

pointed  to  the  hour  of  noon,  the  tap-room  of  the 
famous  Mermaid  Inn  in  London  presented  a  cheer 
ful  appearance.  Here  was  gathered  a  choice  com 
pany  of  the  most  congenial  spirits,  famous  wits,  and 
boon  companions  of  Elizabeth's  court.  The  many 
tables  were  covered  with  decanters  of  rare  wine, 
mugs  of  ale  and  beer,  and  many  different  beverages 
to  suit  the  varied  fancies  of  the  assemblage,  while 
the  atmosphere  in  the  room  was  so  thick  with  tobacco 
smoke  that  the  roaring  flames  in  the  fire-place  shone 
through  the  haze  like  a  beacon  in  a  dense  fog. 

At  a  table  in  the  centre  of  the  room  sat  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh  with  his  protege,  Edmund  Spenser,  a  poet 
of  rising  repute  whom  he  sought  to  have  presented 
at  court.  With  them  were  Beaumont  and  Fletcher, 
both  brilliant  writers  and  wits. 

Sir  Francis  Drake,  with  Governor  Lane  of  the 
American  colony  of  Virginia,  and  Selden,  Cotton, 
and  Doune  occupied  another  table,  and  dotted  about 
the  room  were  several  laughing  nobles,  amongst 
them  Martin  and  Carew,  while  the  Queen's  Lord 
Chancellor  sprawled  on  a  bench  by  the  fire,  content 
edly  sucking  at  his  pipe  and  listening  to  the  sallies 
and  flashes  of  repartee  that  constantly  passed 
amongst  the  merry  revelers. 

The  landlord  and  his  servants  were  kept  busy  at 
tending  to  the  wants  of  the  thirsty  company,  whose 
condition  was  considerably  mellowed  by  its  frequent 
indulgence  in  the  Christmas  cheer. 

The  tap-room  soon  became  so  noisy  that  it  was 
impossible  for  the  attendants  to  distinguish  the  cour 
tiers'  orders  above  the  roars  of  laughter  and  the 


208  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

sounds  of  clinking  glasses,  and  they  were  compelled 
to  give  up  in  despair,  setting  out  flasks  and  decan 
ters,  and  mugs  and  tankards  indiscriminately,  all  of 
which  were  quickly  emptied,  without  protest,  how 
ever. 

In  the  midst  of  the  confusion,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh, 
the  captain  of  the  Queen's  guard,  arose  and  thunder 
ed  with  his  fist  upon  the  table.  His  action  had  the 
desired  effect,  and  a  state  of  comparative  quiet  en 
sued.  He  raised  his  arm  on  high. 

"Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "I  give  you  the  health  of 
our  Queen";  and  he  drained  his  glass,  while  the 
company,  with  a  roar  of  approval,  followed  suit. 

Fletcher  filled  his  cup  again  and  sprang  to  his 
feet. 

"And  I  drink  to  the  destruction  of  her  enemies !" 
he  shouted,  and  the  tumult  rose  louder  than  before. 

Sir  Francis  Drake  pushed  back  his  chair  and  stood 
erect,  as  handsome  a  specimen  of  manly  beauty  as 
ever  graced  a  queenly  court. 

"I  give  you  a  third  toast,"  said  he :  "To  the 
Devil  with  the  Spanish  King!" 

In  an  instant  every  man  in  the  room  was  on  his 
feet,  and  a  mighty  shout  shook  the  rafters.  Then 
they  drank  long  and  deep  and  seated  themselves  in 
silence. 

"You  can  trust  Drake  to  send  a  man  to  hell,  if 
ever  he  gets  after  him,"  said  Beaumont;  and  a  laugh 
went  up  as  Carew  retorted : 

"Let  us  hope  you  are  not  consigned  to  the  same 
dwelling,  for  your  acrid  tongue  and  King  Philip's 


The  Captain  of  the  Guard  209 

plotting  nature,  were  they  in  combination,  would 
drive  the  Devil  out  of  his  abiding  place." 

"He  has  a  torture  chamber  especially  prepared  for 
you,  and  eagerly  awaits  your  coming.  'Tis  a  room 
where  wits  are  converted  into  broiling  bits,"  flashed 
Beaumont. 

Governor  Lane  interposed,  as  the  controversy  was 
becoming  heated : 

"Gentlemen,  I  propose  a  song,"  he  said.  "Let 
Edmund  Spenser  favour  us." 

His  speech  was  greeted  with  shouts  of  approval, 
while  Fletcher,  with  a  sweep  of  his  arm,  cleared  the 
centre  stand  of  glasses  and  decanters,  which  crashed 
in  broken  bits  upon  the  floor.  Martin,  Cotton,  and 
Doune  came  forward,  and  seizing  the  poet's  chair, 
lifted  seat  and  all  and  placed  him  on  the  table.  A 
foaming  tankard  was  thrust  into  his  hand,  and  the 
eager  courtiers  drew  closer  to  him  and  loudly  shouted 
for  him  to  ope  his  lips. 

He  surveyed  them  good-naturedly. 

"Of  what  shall  I  sing?"  he  asked. 

"In  honour  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  who  is  respon 
sible  for  the  fragrant  vapours  that  fill  this  cozy 
room,"  said  Drake,  "I  would  suggest  that  you  eulo 
gize  his  delightful  weed." 

His  proposal  was  loudly  seconded  by  the  noisy 
throng,  and  Spenser  pressed  his  hand  to  his  brow  for 
a  moment,  then  arose,  and  placing  one  foot  on  the 
chair  and  raising  his  tankard  on  high,  he  spiritedly 
began : 


210  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"Oh  fill  me  the  bowl  of  my  long  clay  pipe, 

And  fetch  me  a  mug  of  ale ; 
They'll  soothe  the  soul  of  a  tired  man 
When  all  endeavours  fail. 

I'll  find  repose  in  the  curling  smoke 

That  wreathes  my  aching  brain, 
For  sweet  surcease 
And  dreams  of  peace 

Attend  Tobacco's  train." 

CHORUS. 

"Then  Oho,  my  lads,  let  us  drain  a  cup 

In  worship  at  his  shrine, 
There  are  many  mighty  kings  on  earth, 

But  King  Tobacco's  mine, 
Oho, 
His  brilliancy  enslaveth  me ; 

Aye,  King  Tobacco's  mine." 

He  repeated  the  chorus,  in  which  his  auditors 
lustily  joined,  and  in  response  to  their  repeated 
clamours  for  another  verse  he  went  on : 

"When  Sir  Walter  brought  the  fragrant  weed 

From  the  fair  Virginia  shore, 
A  noble  blessing  he  bestowed 
On  England,  evermore. 

And  never  a  thought  of  damsel  coy, 

Of  kings,  or  queens,  or  fools 
Dares  to  intrude 
With  footsteps  rude 

While  King  Tobacco  rules." 

CHORUS. 

'Then  Oho,  my  lads,  let  us  join  our  hands, 

And  dance  around  his  throne, 
All  minions  of  his  scepter's  sway, 

We're  King  Tobacco's  own, 
Oho, 

With  smoke  rings  dim  we  re  bound  to  him ; 
We're  King  Tobacco's  own." 


The  Captain  of  the  Guard  211 

The  revelers  again  joined  in  the  second  chorus, 
and  when  they  had  finished  he  drained  the  tankard, 
which  was  hastily  taken  from  him  and  another  full 
one  was  thrust  in  his  hand.  In  the  midst  of  the 
thunderous  applause  that  followed,  the  tap-room 
door  opened,  and  three  belated  guests  entered.  They 
were  Robert  Devereux,  Will  Shakespeare,  and 
Henry  Wriothesley.  Chairs  were  quickly  placed  for 
them  and  they  were  served  with  liquors,  and  Lane 
demanded  another  verse  for  the  benefit  of  the  new 
arrivals. 

Spenser,  delighted  at  this  chance  to  air  his  talent 
in  the  presence  of  Shakespeare,  sang  again : 

"In  the  Mermaid  Inn  you  will  ever  find 

Disciples  of  this  great  King, 
A-blowing  clouds  of  fragrant  smoke, 
Unheedful  of  time's  wing. 

For  they're  one  and  all  his  willing  slaves, 

This  band  of  merry  wights ; 
They  banish  care 
To  empty  air, 

Through  Nicotine's  delights." 

CHORUS. 

"Then  Oho,  my  lads,  let  us  bow  our  heads, 

Submissive  to  his  power, 
And  offer  up  our  gratitude 

For  King  Tobacco's  dower, 
Oho, 
A  legacy  of  smoke,  you  see, 

Is  King  Tobacco's  dower." 

As  Spenser  finished,  he  leapt  to  the  floor,  and  the 
new-comers  heartily  joined  in  the  storm  of  hand- 
clapping  that  was  sweet  music  to  his  flattered  ears. 


212  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

For  a  while  the  room  was  a-buzz  with  a  lively  dis 
cussion  of  the  song,  but  gradually  the  company 
broke  up  into  small  groups  and  amused  itself  vari 
ously  at  the  different  tables.  Two  or  three  of  the 
party,  who  had  indulged  too  deeply,  fell  into  a 
drunken  sleep  and  were  stowed  away  beneath  the 
stands,  \vhile  their  companions  went  merrily  on  with 
their  potations. 

Finally  an  angry  voice  rose  at  the  centre  table  and 
attracted  the  attention  of  all  in  the  room : 

"I  tell  you,  Drake,  you  are  dazzled  by  his  stand 
ing  with  the  Queen.  Spenser  is  by  far  the  cleverer 
of  the  two,  and  I  challenge  any  one  to  gainsay  it." 

Southampton's  ears  pricked  up,  and  Essex  laid  a 
restraining  hand  upon  his  arm,  while  Drake  calmly 
endeavoured  to  pacify  the  excited  captain. 

"You  must  remember,  Raleigh,  that  I  have  seen 
several  of  the  playwright's  comedies  and  heard  his 
verses,  while  this  is  the  only  time  that  I  have  listen 
ed  to  your  protege." 

"Let  him  once  enter  the  Queen's  suite,"  loudly 
said  Sir  Walter,  "and  Will  Shakespeare's  star  will 
quickly  wane." 

Wriothesley  threw  off  Essex's  hand  and  strode 
in  front  of  the  captain. 

"My  Lord,"  he  said  coldly,  "you  will  never  see 
that  day." 

Raleigh  grasped  the  table  and  arose  a  trifle  un 
steadily. 

"My  young  and  impudent  Earl,"  he  said,  "Ed 
mund  Spenser  is  Shakespeare's  superior  in  breeding, 
birth,  and  brain,  and  you  dare  not  dispute  it." 


The  Captain  of  the  Guard  213 

"That  is  a  lie,  Sir  Knight,"  quickly  answered  the 
young  noble. 

Raleigh's  face  turned  purple  and  he  was  sobered 
instantly.  He  seized  a  glass  of  sparkling  wine  and 
dashed  it  straight  in  Southampton's  face,  laughing 
hoarsely  as  the  amber  liquid  trickled  over  the  youth's 
embroidered  doublet. 

"We  will  soon  see  who  is  the  better  man  of  us 
two,"  he  said,  as  Wriothesley  wiped  the  smarting 
fluid  from  his  eyes. 

"The  sooner  the  better,  my  Lord,"  answered 
Henry.  "The  Earl  of  Essex  will  represent  me.  Will 
you  name  your  second,  that  they  may  arrange  the 
necessary  details  at  once?" 

"Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  if  he  will  act,"  said  Raleigh, 
stepping  to  the  side  of  the  Lord  Chancellor. 

Hatton  quickly  whispered  in  his  ear : 

"Sir  Walter,  I  will  arrange  for  a  duel  with  the  left 
hand.  You  know  that  it  is  your  strong  point  and 
this  youth  will  never  have  a  chance  against  your 
practised  arm.  Raleigh  nodded  and  smiled  grimly, 
as  Hatton  walked  to  meet  Devereux,  who  was  cross 
ing  the  room. 

They  bowed  courteously  as  they  met,  and  Hatton 
was  the  first  to  speak. 

"My  Lord/'  said  he,  "as  all  concerned  desire  a 
speedy  termination  to  this  affair,  and  as  my  principal 
is  the  challenged  party,  he  names  this  room  as  the 
meeting-place,  the  duel  to  be  fought  with  rapiers; 
and  asserting  his  privilege,  he  selects  the  combat  of 
the  left  hand,  the  right  wrist  to  be  bound  tightly 
at  the  waist,  that  all  present  may  be  assured  of  fair 
play." 


214  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Essex  paled  visibly,  but  bowed. 

"Sir  Thomas/'  he  said,  "if  you  will  despatch  the 
inn-keeper  for  a  chirurgeon  we  will  prepare  our 
selves  for  the  duello  at  once." 

The  guests  eagerly  joined  the  servants  in  clearing 
the  room.  The  chairs  and  tables  were  carried  to 
the  kitchen,  while  the  broken  bits  of  glass  were 
swept  from  the  floor,  which  was  carefully  sanded, 
and  the  burning  tapers  were  divided  in  equal  num 
bers  and  placed  at  the  ends  of  the  room.  The 
drunken  courtiers  were  dragged  before  the  fireplace, 
while  the  rest  of  the  revelers  ranged  themselves  in 
long  lines  on  either  side  of  the  tap-room. 

When  the  chirurgeon  arrived  the  contestants  were 
stripped  to  the  waist,  and  their  right  arms  were 
bound  tightly  to  their  sides,  despite  the  protests  of 
several  of  the  more  prominent  nobles  at  this  novel 
and  barbarous  style  of  combat. 

Rapiers  were  selected  from  a  stand  that  was  kept 
at  the  Inn  in  anticipation  of  a  contingency  like  the 
present  one,  and  the  stern  captain  and  fair  youth 
faced  each  other  and  stood  on  guard  in  the  centre  of 
the  room. 

'Twas  an  odd  picture  as  the  flickering  light  fell 
fitfully  on  the  assemblage,  the  faces  of  the  specta 
tors  showing  paler  in  their  trepidation  than  those  of 
the  principals. 

Sir  Thomas  Hatton  and  Essex  took  their  stations, 
and,  as  the  word  was  given,  the  swords  met  with  a 
ringing  clash  of  steel,  and  the  sparks  flew  with  light 
ning  rapidity  from  the  flashing  weapons. 


The  Captain  of  the  Guard  215 

i 

Southampton  was  more  agile  than  his  older  oppo 
nent,  and  circled  around  him,  making  many  swift 
lunges  and  passes  which  were  dexterously  parried  by 
Sir  Walter's  steady  arm.  Ere  long  the  young  Earl 
was  breathing  heavily,  though  the  captain  had  scarce 
stirred  from  his  original  position,  and  it  was  soon 
evident  that  the  contest  could  have  but  one  termina 
tion. 

Wriothesley,  rendered  furious  by  a  laughing  taunt 
from  Raleigh,  forgot  his  caution  and  made  a  reck 
less  lunge.  His  adversary  coolly  stepped  aside,  and 
as  Southampton  overbalanced  and  fell  toward  him 
he  quickly  stiffened  his  arm,  transfixing  the  poor 
youth's  neck  with  his  rapier. 

As  a  stream  of  blood  spurted  from  Henry's  throat, 
he  dropped  his  weapon  and  sank  to  his  knees.  The 
captain  drew  his  sword  from  the  wound,  and  turn 
ing  toward  the  fireplace,  calmly  wiped  the  blood 
from  it  upon  the  garments  of  one  of  the  besotted  wits. 

Shakespeare,  Essex,  and  the  chirurgeon  quickly 
ran  to  Wriothesley's  side,  and  began  tenderly  to 
examine  his  hurt. 

Raleigh  strutted  in  front  of  the  fire. 

"If  there  be  any  other  present  who  wishes  to  main 
tain  Will  Shakespeare's  superiority,  he  may  do  so  on 
the  same  terms,"  he  challenged  in  a  sneering  tone. 

Essex  quickly  lifted  his  head;  then  leaping  to  his 
feet,  he  strode  swiftly  across  the  room  and  brought 
his  gauntlet  with  stinging  force  across  the  insolent 
captain's  mouth. 

"I'll  take  Southampton's  place,"  he  said,  as  he 
stripped  off  his  jerkin  and  picked  up  the  rapier  of 


216  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

the  vanquished  Earl.  "I  need  no  second.  If  Sir 
Thomas  Hatton  will  bind  my  right  arm,  I'll  give  this 
braggart  lord  a  taste  of  cold  steel  for  his  Christmas 
dinner !" 

"You'll  never  live  till  the  repast  is  served!" 
fiercely  answered  Raleigh,  as  he  stepped  to  the  cen 
tre  of  the  room.  "I  am  sorry  for  the  other  poor 
fool's  wound,  but  I  will  take  delight  in  slaying  you, 
my  dear  enemy." 

They  fell  too  eagerly,  and  the  spectators  realized 
ere  long  that  here  was  indeed  a  contest  to  the  death. 

The  moment  that  Sir  Walter  felt  the  touch  of  Es 
sex's  steel  he  knew  that  he  was  dealing  with  a  mas 
ter  hand,  and  that  he  must  use  his  utmost  strength 
and  skill  if  he  would  come  out  of  the  duel  unscathed. 

Each  contestant  watched  with  hawklike  eyes  the 
features  of  his  opponent,  and  never  a  thrust  was 
made  without  a  skilful  parry  or  a  quick  recovery. 
For  some  moments  they  stood  in  the  centre  of  the 
room  moving  only  their  left  arms,  while  their  feet 
seemed  fixed  to  the  sanded  floor ;  then  Raleigh  drew 
back  stealthily  and  of  a  sudden  made  a  furious  onset, 
striving  to  break  down  Essex's  guard. 

The  Earl's  sword  was  here,  there,  and  every 
where,  though  his  face  retained  its  calm  smile 
and  his  body  scarcely  turned,  and  Sir  Walter  soon 
realized  that  his  defense  was  impenetrable  and 
changed  his  tactics.  He  began  to  circle  slowly 
around  his  adversary,  and  to  feint  and  change  his 
step  with  the  hope  of  bewildering  Devereux.  But 
he  underrated  his  man,  for  Essex  met  him  at  every 
point,  then  suddenly  attacked  the  captain  in  return. 


The  Captain  of  the  Guard  217 

Raleigh  was  forced  to  retreat  rapidly  around  the 
room,  and  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  famous 
swordsman  had  met  his  match. 

Essex,  with  a  triumphant  smile,  closed  in  upon 
him,  seeking  to  deliver  a  finishing  blow,  when  his 
foot  slipped  in  a  pool  of  Henry  Wriothesley's  blood, 
and  he  fell  heavily  to  his  hip  upon  the  sanded  floor. 

With  a  hoarse  cry  of  joy,  the  captain  rushed  for 
ward  with  the  intention  of  stabbing  his  prostrate 
enemy  to  the  heart;  but  with  marvelous  agility  the 
Earl  raised  his  arm  and  caught  his  adversary's 
sword  upon  his  own  blade,  with  a  dexterous  twist 
sending  it  flying  far  across  the  room.  A  cry  of  ad 
miration  arose  from  the  spectators,  and  there  were 
many  hisses  for  Raleigh's  cowardly  action. 

Essex  got  upon  his  feet  and  addressed  the  captain, 
who  stood  sullen  and  ashamed  before  him. 

"  'Twas  a  dastardly  act,"  he  said,  "and  by  the 
rules  of  the  duello  your  life  is  forfeit  to  me  through 
your  foul  play.  But  I  scorn  to  take  advantage  of  the 
code.  Pick  up  your  weapon,  and  I  will  give  you 
one  more  chance  for  your  craven  existence,  though 
you  have  no  honour." 

As  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  handed  him  his  rapier, 
Raleigh  addressed  the  excited  throng : 

"In  all  my  life,"  said  he,  "I  have  never  before  been 
accused  of  cowardice.  I  tender  my  apology  to  the 
Earl  for  my  murderous  act.  My  temper  overleapt 
its  bounds,  for  which  I  am  heartily  ashamed,  and  I 
thank  him  publicly  for  his  forbearance." 

A  murmur  of  approbation  attended  his  speech, 
but  Essex  said  nothing  and  they  again  engaged  in 
the  duel. 


218  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

i 

The  captain's  hand  seemed  to  have  lost  its  cun 
ning,  and  Essex  forced  him  around  the  room  at  will, 
time  and  again  scorning  to  take  advantage  of  an 
opening.  At  last  he  spoke. 

"Sir  Walter/'  he  said,  "you  are  committing  sui 
cide.  'Tis  a  pitiful  exhibition  for  the  most  expert 
swordsman  in  England." 

Again  Raleigh's  temper  took  fire,  but  his  arm 
stiffened  and  he  made  a  fierce  attack  upon  the  Earl. 
With  desperate  fury  he  hurled  his  heavy  form  upon 
his  lighter  antagonist,  and  the  excited  witnesses  were 
surprised  to  see  Devereux  retreat  before  his  assault. 

The  captain's  eyes  flashed  with  returning  hope, 
and,  with  a  swift  overhand  thrust,  he  sought  to  end 
the  battle.  Essex  stooped  quickly,  and  as  Sir  Wal 
ter's  sword  missed  him  by  a  hairsbreadth  his  left  arm 
shot  out  and  his  rapier  entered  Raleigh's  breast 
above  the  heart,  completely  piercing  his  stalwart 
frame,  the  point  showing  under  his  shoulder.  He 
fell  backward,  his  own  weight  releasing  Essex's 
sword,  which  the  Earl  still  tightly  clutched ;  and  his 
life-blood  welled  out  in  a  crimson  pool  upon  the 
sand  as  his  senses  left  him. 

Devereux  surveyed  him  calmly  for  a  moment, 
then  turned  upon  his  heel  and  walked  to  the  side  of 
his  injured  friend,  whose  wound  had  been  stanched 
by  the  bandages  of  the  chirurgeon. 

"Another  patient  needs  your  attention,"  he  said. 
Then,  bending  over,  he  whispered  in  Shakespeare's 
ear: 

"Do  you,  Will,  quickly  summon  a  coach,  that  we 
may  bear  Henry  to  a  suitable  lodging  and  provide 


The  Captain  of  the  Guard  219 

him  with  the  best  of  medical  attendance.  Then  I 
will  remain  with  him  while  you  proceed  to  Windsor 
and  break  the  news  most  gently  to  his  wife,  and  if 
she  bravely  bears  the  shock  you  must  straightway 
accompany  her  to  his  bedside. 


CHAPTER  XVII 
WHAT  THE  GREEN-EYED  MONSTER  DID 

When  Shakespeare  and  Essex  had  found  a  com 
fortable  lodging  for  their  wounded  friend  in  a  quiet 
inn  near  the  old  school,  they  summoned  an  eminent 
doctor,  who,  after  a  careful  examination  of  South 
ampton's  injury,  pronounced  his  condition  as  ex 
tremely  dangerous  but  declared  that  with  the  best  of 
nursing  he  had  a  slim  chance  for  life.  Raleigh's 
sword  had  missed  a  vital  spot  by  but  a  narrow  mar 
gin,  and  the  wound  was  very  difficult  to  close.  It 
was  well-nigh  impossible  for  the  Earl  to  swallow, 
even  liquid  nourishment;  and  the  doctor  forbade 
his  friends  to  allow  him  to  speak  until  he  gave  his 
permission.  He  bled  his  patient,  and  left  a  sleep 
ing-draught,  with  directions  as  to  his  care  until 
his  .next  visit. 

When  he  had  gone,  Essex  turned  to  Shakespeare, 
saying : 

"Will,  you  must  hasten  to  Windsor  as  fast  as  a 
good  horse  can  carry  you.  Tis  Juliet's  right  to  be 
at  her  husband's  side,  and  her  presence  will  soothe 
him.  If  you  waste  no  time  you  may  return  by  night 
fall  and  she  may  be  brought  here  quietly,  and  I  will 
undertake  that  no  suspicious  eyes  will  witness  her 
approach." 


What  the  Green-eyed  Monster  Did          221 

Shakespeare  obtained  a  horse  from  the  landlord 
and  set  out  for  the  palace  as  fast  as  the  flying  hoofs 
could  travel,  and  late  in  the  afternoon  he  rode  into 
the  empty  court-yard.  He  sought  his  guardsman, 
Roger  Covert,  whom  he  quickly  found  at  Anne 
Holcombe's  laundry,  and  directed  him  to  have  two 
of  the  best  horses  in  the  stables  saddled  and  brought 
to  Master  Florio's  apartments  at  once.  Covert  ran 
to  obey,  and  Will  hurried  to  the  lodgings  of  his 
old  teacher.  He  found  Juliet  and  her  father  in  the 
study,  and  as  she  saw  his  troubled  face  she  sprang 
to  her  feet  with  an  intuition  of  disaster. 

"Why,  Master  Shakespeare,  where  is  Henry?" 
she  asked.  "He  told  me  that  he  was  going  to  Lon 
don  for  a  few  hours  with  you  and  Robert  Devereux ; 
that  he  wanted  to  purchase  me  a  Christmas  token 
and  would  return  early.  Why  do  you  come  here 
alone?  Has  any  injury  befallen  him?" 

"Your  husband  lies  wounded  at  a  tavern  in  Lon 
don.  I  was  the  innocent  cause  of  a  duel  between 
Sir  Walter  Raleigh  and  himself.  The  chirurgeon 
gives  us  much  encouragement,  but  we  feel  that  he 
would  rest  more  quietly  were  you  at  hand  to-night. 
I  have  come  to  take  you  to  him  at  once,  and  with 
your  father's  permission  will  arrange  that  you  may 
lodge  at  his  school,  where  you  will  have  your  maid 
ens  to  attend  you." 

The  distressed  bride  gave  way  to  a  fit  of  violent 
weeping  at  the  news  of  this  pitiful  interruption  of 
her  honeymoon,  and  John  Florio  took  her  in  his  lov 
ing  arms,  caressing  her  gently  and  endeavouring  to 
soothe  her  with  words  of  encouragement  for  her 
husband's  recovery. 


222  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Shakespeare  stood,  uncertain  what  to  do,  until  his 
embarrassment  was  relieved  by  Roger's  arrival  with 
the  horses.  Then  he  stepped  to  Florio's  side  and 
took  the  beautiful  girl  by  the  hand,  saying : 

"Juliet,  if  you  will  change  your  habit,  we  will  set 
out  for  London  at  once.  '.T would  not  be  well  to 
have  darkness  catch  us  ere  we  reach  the  town." 

She  was  aroused  at  the  thought  of  immediate 
action,  and  quickly  drying  her  eyes  and  stifling  her 
sobs,  she  ran  into  her  room  and  soon  emerged  appar 
eled  for  her  journey. 

Will  assisted  her  to  mount,  and  as  they  were 
crossing  the  portion  of  the  court-yard  opposite  the 
royal  apartments  Anne  Hathaway  came  to  a  window 
to  draw  a  tapestry  and  shut  out  the  rays  of  the 
declining  sun  from  the  Queen's  chamber.  The  fig 
ures  of  the  riders  attracted  her  attention,  and  as 
she  recognized  the  poet  and  the  Italian  maid  setting 
forth  on  the  London  road  at  this  late  hour  of  the 
afternoon,  she  felt  a  sudden  sinking  at  her  heart, 
and  her  bosom  heaved  with  a  strange  emotion  while 
she  stood  staring  through  the  castle  gates  long  after 
their  forms  had  faded  from  view. 

Finally  she  drew  a  sharp  breath  that  sounded  not 
unlike  a  sob,  and  turning  quickly,  left  the  window, 
all  forgetful  of  the  open  blind,  and  sought  her  own 
room. 

On  the  road  to  the  city  Will  Shakespeare  told 
Juliet  the  story  of  the  duels,  and  her  eyes  filled  anew 
at  his  description  of  Wriothesley's  bravery  and  his 
unfortunate  injury;  but  despite  her  agonized  fear 
for  her  husband's  condition  she  could  not  refrain 


What  the  Green-eyed  Monster  Did          223 

from  clapping  her  hands  when  she  heard  of  Essex's 
action  and  the  severe  wounding  of  the  captain  of  the 
guard. 

They  arrived  at  the  inn  as  the  winter  twilight 
was  falling,  and  not  a  soul  espied  their  entrance 
to  Southampton's  apartments.  Essex  opened  the 
door  for  them,  and  Juliet  ran  to  Henry's  couch  and 
threw  herself  upon  her  knees  at  his  side.  He  was 
wide  awake  and  perfectly  conscious,  and  stretched 
out  his  hand,  which  she  seized  eagerly  and  covered 
with  her  loving  kisses.  Though  he  could  not  speak 
he  communicated  his  love  to  her  by  a  tight  pressure 
of  her  hands,  and  she  arose  and  laid  aside  her  cloak 
with  the  determination  of  remaining  with  him 
throughout  the  night.  As  her  back  was  turned  he 
looked  piteously  at  Essex,  who  interpreted  his 
glances. 

"Nay,  Juliet,"  he  said,  "it  would  not  do  for  you 
to  stay.  'Twould  cause  talk  if  any  one  should  find 
it  out  ere  your  marriage  is  announced,  and  though 
my  Lord  Bishop  Kitchen  might  aver  until  he  was 
black  in  the  face  that  he  wedded  you  full  three 
months  back,  they  would  prefer  not  to  believe  it, 
so  dearly  do  they  love  to  wag  a  scandalous  tongue. 
Henry  is  much  cheered  by  your  visit,  and  the  doctor 
has  left  a  sleeping-potion  which  I  will  administer, 
that  he  may  have  a  long  period  of  repose. 

"Let  Will  accompany  you  to  the  school,  and  when 
he  returns  he'll  gladly  share  with  me  the  pleasant 
duty  of  ministering  to  your  devoted  lover  and  our 
dear  friend." 


224  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Juliet  silently  took  up  her  cloak  and  drew  it  round 
her  shoulders,  saying : 

"You  are  right,  my  Lord,  and  I  am  grateful  for 
your  wisdom." 

She  knelt  once  more  at  Henry's  bedside,  and 
clasping  her  dainty  hands  she  bowed  her  lovely  head 
and  uttered  a  short  but  fervent  prayer  for  his 
recovery. 

"Surely  a  just  God  will  not  deny  the  appeal  of 
this  innocent  maiden,"  whispered  Essex,  as  he  stood 
in  mute  admiration  of  her  holy  affection  for  her 
youthful  husband. 

She  arose,  and  stooping  over  the  bed,  pressed  a 
gentle  kiss  on  Wriothesley's  brow,  then  turning  to 
his  friends  she  laid  her  hand  confidingly  on  Shakes 
peare's  arm  and  departed  with  him  for  her  father's 
school. 

"If  ever  an  angel  came  to  earth,"  said  Essex, 
"one  walks  in  the  guise  of  your  beautiful  wife, 
Henry" ;  and  he  gave  Southampton  the  sleeping- 
draught. 

Wriothesley's  wound  healed  slowly  but  surely, 
and  so  strong  was  the  power  of  life  and  love  in  his 
youthful  frame  that,  before  January  was  a  fortnight 
old,  Juliet  felt  justified  in  returning  to  her  father 
at  Windsor,  though  she  made  frequent  visits  to 
London  in  the  company  of  Will  Shakespeare,  few  of 
which  escaped  the  eyes  of  the  vigilant  Anne  Hatha 
way;  though  the  other  inmates  of  the  royal  house 
hold  seemed  oblivious  of  their  coming  or  going. 

One  day  the  Queen  sent  for  her  favourite  maid, 
and  when  Anne  answered  her  summons  she  dis- 


What  the  Green-eyed  Monster  Did          225 

missed  the  other  attendants  from  the  room.  When 
they  were  alone  Elizabeth  addressed  the  girl  affec 
tionately. 

"Be  seated,  my  dear,"  said  she,  "and  let  us  ex 
change  confidences  as  though  we  were  two  simple 
maidens.  Forget  for  a  while  that  I  am  a  Queen. 
'Tis  only  by  accident  of  birth  that  I  rule  England, 
and  no  doubt  were  you  in  my  place  you  would  sur 
pass  me  by  the  brilliancy  of  your  reign." 

"Nay,  your  Majesty,"  said  Anne.  "There  was 
never  so  popular  a  ruler  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
From  the  first  day  of  your  ascendency  to  the  throne 
your  subjects  have  loved  you,  and  so  gently  have 
you  used  the  scepter  of  your  power  that  you  have 
brought  not  only  the  courtiers  and  attendants  of  the 
royal  train  in  worship  at  your  feet,  but  the  lowest 
peasant  in  this  broad  isle  would  gladly  give  up  his 
life,  that  he  might  be  one  of  the  many  humble  instru 
ments  to  protect  your  kingdom  from  the  forces  of 
an  invading  usurper." 

"Do  you  love  me  so  much,  Anne?" 

"You  know  that  I  am  your  slave.  I  love  my 
country,  but  I  love  my  Queen  more.  And  were  such 
an  unforeseen  event  as  your  dethronement  to  occur, 
I  would  quickly  forsake  England  and  ask  nothing 
better  than  to  accompany  you  in  your  banishment 
to  some  solitary  region,  where  we  might  live  our 
lives  anew,  finding  contentment  in  our  memory  of  the 
past  and  the  power  that  had  flown." 

"May  God  prevent  such  a  catastrophe!"  shud 
dered  the  Queen.  "But  is  there  not  one  of  all  the 
nobles  in  my  court  to  whom  your  heart  inclines? 


226  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  others  of  my  ladies  have  admirers  by  the  score, 
and  spend  much  of  their  time  in  love-passages  with 
their  gallants;  but  you,  my  dear,  are  ever  at  my 
hand,  though  I  cannot  understand  your  shunning  of 
the  sterner  sex.  Surely  it  is  not  for  want  of  suitors, 
for  you  are  the  handsomest  and  haughtiest  of  all 
my  maids,  and  full  many  languishing  glances  have 
I  seen  cast  in  your  direction  at  the  audiences  in  the 
throne-room." 

Anne  Hathaway  dropped  her  eyes  in  confusion, 
but  said  nothing,  and  the  Queen  went  on : 

"First  King  Philip  importuned  me  to  bestow  your 
hand  upon  the  Spaniard,  Don  Gomez  de  Silva ;  and 
though  it  irked  me  much  to  give  the  monarch  of 
fense,  I  loved  you  too  well  to  sacrifice  your  happi 
ness,  and  at  your  request  I  flatly  denied  his  prayer.'' 

"For  which  I  am  deeply  grateful,"  murmured 
Anne. 

"But  when  another  lover,  nearer  home,  approached 
me,"  said  Elizabeth,  "I  was  much  inclined  to  en 
courage  his  suit,  for  I  believed  that  he  would  make 
a  worthy  husband  for  my  proud  maid.  Besides,  in 
your  song  before  the  good  Lord  Bishop,  you  led  me 
to  believe  that  it  was  he  whom  you  preferred  to 
Philip's  minister." 

"Nay,  I  referred  to  no  one  in  particular,  your 
Majesty.  I  simply  wished  to  be  freed  from  the  atten 
tions  of  the  odious  Spaniard." 

"And  has  the  handsome  Sir  Thomas  Hatton  no 
attraction  for  you,  Anne?  For  a  while  he  reveled 
in  the  sunshine  of  your  smiles  and  was  a  constant 
attendant  upon  your  moments  of  leisure.  Methinks 


What  the  Green-eyed  Monster  Did          227 

you  gave  him  much  cause  to  hope,  but  of  a  sudden 
he  has  forsaken  this  portion  of  the  court  and  I  see 
him  but  briefly,  when  affairs  of  business  so  demand, 
and  his  usually  smiling  countenance  wears  a  changed 
and  sobered  look." 

"O  your  Majesty,  if  I  desired  De  Silva  little  for 
a  husband,  I  do  desire  Sir  Thomas  less.  I  pray  you 
that  you  will  never  countenance  his  suit,  for  I  assure 
you  that  he  is  unworthy  to  touch  a  pure  maiden's 
hand.  I  beg  that  you  will  not  question  me  further, 
but  that  you  will  believe  that  I  have  the  best  of  rea 
sons  for  never  speaking  to  the  base  Chancellor 
again." 

The  Queen  raised  her  eyebrows  in  amazement. 

"I  suppose  Hatton  has  his  faults,"  she  said,  "but 
you  know  that  this  is  an  age  of  much  wickedness. 
And  you  cannot  expect  to  find  a  courtier  of  abso 
lutely  spotless  character." 

"Nay.  But  they  are  not  steeped  through  and 
through  with  wickedness.  Oh,  let  us  seek  to  forget 
his  existence.  Don  Gomez  was  a  paragon  compared 
to  him." 

"Why,  you  open  my  eyes,  maid.  I  must  hereafter 
be  less  confiding  with  my  Lord.  Since  first  I  placed 
him  in  office,  he  has  had  almost  unlimited  power  at 
court,  and  I  have  trusted  many  state  secrets  to  his 
keeping." 

"Then  do  so  no  more,  your  Majesty;  for  though 
I  am  but  a  humble  attendant  of  your  suite,  I  can 
assure  you  that  I  have  rendered  you  better,  aye  far 
better,  service  than  this  treacherous  noble." 


228  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"Anne,  if  any  other  but  you  cast  an  aspersion  on 
the  Chancellor's  character,  I  would  laugh  him  to 
scorn;  but  the  truth  is  ever  shining  in  your  fearless 
eyes,  and  I  will  so  hedge  his  office  with  trusted 
guards  that  he  will  be  powerless  to  injure  me, 
though  he  will  remain  in  ignorance  of  my  precau 
tion.  But  we  must  find  a  husband  for  you.  How 
would  you  like  the  playwright  Shakespeare  for  a 
mate?"" 

"No,  no !"  protested  the  maiden.  "The  poet  least 
of  all.  I  do  not  consider  him  an  honourable  man." 

The  Queen  stared  aghast  at  the  girl. 

"Anne,"  she  said,  "what  has  got  into  your  head 
of  late  ?  You  are  indeed  hard  to  please.  The  young 
man  has  ever  seemed  to  me  the  most  gentle  and  dig 
nified  of  all  my  train." 

"He  is  carrying  on  an  intrigue  with  a  poor  de 
luded  maiden,  your  Majesty,  as  I  discovered  recently 
by  accident." 

"Well,  well,  Anne,  to  find  a  good  man  for  you 
I  am  afraid  that  I  will  have  to  give  in  to  Kitchen 
and  countenance  marriage  amongst  the  clergy. 
Then  we  may  pick  out  some  sanctimonious  bishop 
who  has  lived  the  life  of  a  recluse  from  the  world. 
Surely  he  will  be  untainted." 

"Your  Majesty,  I  want  no  man.  I  am  satisfied  to 
remain  in  the  single  state,  and  what  better  reason 
can  I  give  than  to  take  you  for  my  illustrious  ex 
ample?  You  have  never  seen  fit  to  wed,  and  your 
life  has  ever  been  attended  by  fame  and  happiness." 

The  Queen  arose,  and  walking  to  the  girl's  side, 
took  her  chin  in  her  hand,  and  raising  her  head, 


What  the  Green-eyed  Monster  Did  229 

looked  long  and  tenderly  into  her  lovely  face  with 
its  downcast  eyes. 

"My  dear,"  she  said,  at  length,  "I  would  cry  aloud 
in  my  happiness,  I  would  wave  my  arms  in  defiance 
of  the  whole  world,  and  I  would  fairly  dance  for 
joy,  if  I  could  this  moment  change  places  with  you 
for  good  and  all  and  let  you  assume  the  cares  and 
duties  of  my  throne.  You  would  see  how  quickly 
Elizabeth  would  hunt  up  a  minister  and  marry  the 
man  of  her  choice.  Oh !  If  I  only  dared,  I  would 
snap  my  fingers  at  them  all  and  make  Robert  Dudley 
my  lord  and  master  without  delay. 

"The  chains  of  royalty  are  fetters,  my  beauty; 
and  being  once  a  queen  I  must  always  remain  a 
queen.  But  I  cannot  deny  my  hungry  soul  forever, 
and  if  King  Philip,  and  the  Frenchman,  and  other 
troublesome  potentates  will  ever  give  me  an  in 
stant's  respite  from  their  ardent  wooing,  I  will  that 
minute  wed  my  Earl,  and  casting  all  thought  of 
political  complications  to  the  winds,  I  will  rely  upon 
his  love  and  his  strong  arm  to  guide  me  and  my 
kingdom  safely  through  the  turbulent  sea  of  their 
wrath  and  disapproval." 

"Anne's  heart  was  stirred  with  sympathy  for  this 
woman,  who,  though  all-powerful  in  her  mighty  na 
tion,  was  still  powerless  in  the  court  of  love.  She 
seized  the  Queen's  hand  and  kissed  it  fervently, 
saying : 

"If  I  were  in  your  place,  my  wonderful  Queen, 
and  loved  as  you  do,  I  fear  I  would  sacrifice  my 
throne,  my  country,  and  even  my  friends  to  the 


230  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

strong  fever  of  my  passion.  But,  alas,  the  wedded 
state  is  not  for  me.  I  care  not  enough  for  any  man." 

"Nonsense,  girl.  It  is  but  human  nature,  and  you 
must  be  moved  by  its  mighty  force  as  well  as  I. 
Why,  your  pretty  face,  your  dimpling  cheeks,  your 
ruby  lips  are  an  eloquent  appeal  for  loving  caresses. 

"You  wear  a  veritable  mask  of  love,  and  so  thor 
oughly  do  I  believe  that  our  exterior  graces  are  but 
the  mirror  of  our  inward  feelings,  that  I  do  declare 
you  are  in  love  even  now,  though  you  deny  it  to 
yourself.  Didst  ever  notice  the  sweethearts  at  my 
court,  billing  and  cooing,  sighing  and  pining;  the 
dainty  wenches  waxing  prettier  every  day  when  fed 
on  Cupid's  food  to  the  neglect  of  their  stomachs? 
Their  clear  complexions,  sparkling  eyes,  and  rosy 
cheeks  all  weapons  to  assist  in  capturing  the  amor 
ous  swains.  But  when,  forsooth,  they  marry,  and 
turn  their  minds  to  material  comfort,  they  soon 
grow  fat,  and  as  they  lose  their  romance  become 
great  feeders.  But  you  and  I,  girl,  are  not  of  that 
ilk.  We  were  born  to  love,  we  live  in  love,  and  will 
die  of  love. 

"There,  Anne,"  she  said,  as  the  maiden  looked 
up  in  wonder,  "I  am  a  foolish  woman,  and  should 
leave  philosophy  to  my  Lord  Bishop.  Do  you  know 
that  I  have  a  mind  to  transform  you  into  a  Queen 
to-day,  my  dear,  though  but  for  an  hour,  alas  ?" 

"Why,  what  do  you  mean,  your  Majesty?" 

Elizabeth  ran  to  her  wardrobe  and  took  out  an 
elegant  black  robe  that  she  frequently  wore  in  her 
apartments. 


What  the  Green-eyed  Monster  Did          231 

"Come  hither,  and  seat  yourself  by  the  bed,"  she 
said.  "Now,  Queen  Anne,  I  will  be  your  maid  and 
you  must  let  me  robe  you  as  I  will." 

She  unfastened  the  wondering  girl's  gown  and 
slipped  it  from  her  form ;  she  then  garbed  her  in  her 
robe  and  clasped  its  fastenings.  Lifting  an  enor 
mous  ruff  from  the  bed,  she  placed  it  around  her 
neck,  and  going  to  her  dresser  brought  a  large  wig 
of  reddish  brown  hair  which  she  always  wore  when 
in  the  presence  of  her  courtiers,  and  fitted  it  upon 
Anne  Hathaway's  head.  When  she  had  finished, 
she  surveyed  the  girl  with  a  look  of  approval.  Then 
she  placed  a  small  gilt  chair  near  the  window,  turn 
ing  it  so  that  it  faced  inward. 

"Now,  my  dear,  I  think  that  you  will  do  very 
nicely/'  she  said.  "Seat  yourself  in  the  chair,  but 
keep  your  back  religiously  turned  toward  the  win 
dow,  and  there  is  never  a  courtier  or  lady  in  my  gar 
den  but  will  swear  that  the  Queen  did  not  forsake  her 
apartment  this  afternoon.  Remain  quietly  at  your 
station  until  I  return,  and  you  will  add  another  ser 
vice  to  the  many  you  have  rendered  me.  I  will  lock 
the  door,  and  if  any  one  knocks,  do  you  answer  that 
I  will  not  be  disturbed." 

"Whither  do  you  go,  your  Majesty?"  Anne 
asked,  as  Elizabeth  threw  a  cloak  about  her  shoul 
ders  and  pulled  the  hood  over  her  face. 

"I  depart,  as  a  simple  maiden  of  your  court, 
Queen  Anne,  to  keep  tryst  with  my  lover,  Robert 
Dudley,  in  Cardinal  Wolsey's  tomb-house.  I  go  by 
the  secret  passage,  and  this  time  I  go — alone." 


232  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  panel  flew  open  at  her  pressure,  and  as  she 
vanished  it  closed  with  a  sharp  click,  and  Anne 
heard  her  faint  footfalls  in  the  dark  and  narrow 
hallway. 

"She  is  a  brave  woman,"  murmured  the  maiden, 
"and  she  is  fortunate  in  her  love.  The  Earl  of 
Leicester  will  ever  prove  steadfast.  Why  am  I 
denied  the  love  of  a  good  man  ?  My  heart  cries  for  a 
strong  nature  to  rule  and  master  me.  O  Will 
Shakespeare !  I  begin  to  realize  that  I  had  raised  you 
on  a  pedestal  and  was  a  worshipper  at  your  shrine, 
until  the  intoxicating  beauty  of  the  Italian  girl  won 
your  love  and  caused  your  fall;  and  now  that  my 
idol  is  broken  I  care  not  who  may  seek  my  hand, 
for  I  will  love  him  not.  Your  gentleness  appealed 
to  me  from  the  first,  though  I  wilfully  deceived  my 
self,  until  your  patient  endurance  of  my  insults  and 
your  bravery  on  the  barge  brought  me  to  my  senses. 
And  now  it  is  too  late !  Too  late !" 

She  sat  for  a  long  time  with  clenched  hands  and 
tightly  closed  lips,  until  at  last  she  could  restrain 
herself  no  longer,  and  the  tears  welled  to  her  eyes. 

"Oh,  Will !"  she  sobbed.  "Even  now,  after  your 
shameful  adventures  to  London  with  your  wicked 
mistress,  if  you  would  come  to  me  and  say :  'Anne, 
I  want  you  for  my  wife/  I  would  raise  my  voice  to 
Heaven  in  joyful  praise  for  my  happiness,  and 
would  fall  gladly  into  your  arms ;  for  God  help  me, 
Will,  I  love  you,  I  love  you  with  all  my  heart,  and 
I  care  not  how  soon  my  miserable  life  ends  since  I 
cannot  have  you." 


What  the  Green-eyed  Monster  Did          233 

She  burst  into  a  violent  fit  of  weeping,  and,  for 
getful  of  her  duty,  of  her  Queen,  of  everything  save 
her  love,  she  left  her  chair  and  threw  herself  upon 
the  royal  couch,  giving  way  to  her  despair  in  a  tor 
rent  of  tears. 

When  Elizabeth  returned  through  the  panel,  she 
was  amazed  to  see  her  hand-maiden  lying  upon  her 
bed,  her  frame  shaking  with  suppressed  sobs;  but 
so  wonderful  was  the  chastening  influence  of  her 
own  love  upon  her  nature  that  she  forbore  even  to 
censure  the  girl  for  her  dereliction  of  duty. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 
THE  QUEEN  OF  SCOTS 

Sir  Amias  Paulet  entered  Mary  Stuart's  prison- 
room  in  Fotheringay  Castle,  where  she  had  been  con 
fined  ever  since  her  trial  and  .conviction  on  the  charge 
of  conspiracy  against  Queen  Elizabeth's  life.  The 
judges  had  passed  the  sentence  of  death  with  but  one 
dissenting  voice.  But  Her  Majesty  had,  as  yet,  fail 
ed  to  sign  the  warrant  of  execution,  evading  the 
issue  whenever  it  was  pressed  upon  her,  and  seeming 
loath  to  take  the  life  of  the  condemned  woman. 

"Your  Highness,"  said  Sir  Amais,  "I  am  in 
receipt  of  a  most  cruel  missive  from  Windsor,  and 
one  that  makes  my  very  blood  boil  at  the  base 
motives  of  its  sender.  Davison,  the  Queen's  secre 
tary,  has  requested  me  to  act  upon  my  own  responsi 
bility  and  to  take  your  life,  either  by  poison  or  by 
having  you  smothered  in  your  cell.  Thus  Elizabeth 
would  shift  the  odium  of  your  death  upon  my 
shoulders,  and  would  no  doubt  reward  me  hand 
somely,  while  declaring  to  the  world  that  she 
abhorred  the  act  and  had  contemplated  your  pardon." 

As  Mary  sat  in  her  chair  her  cheek  paled  and  the 
chill  of  despair  settled  upon  her  heart,  but  she  spoke 
calmly : 


The  Queen  of  Scots  235 

"I  am  in  your  power,  my  Lord.  You  may  do  with 
me  as  you  will  and  I  shall  blame  you  not.  'Twill 
indeed  save  much  trouble  to  her  officers  and  her 
headsman." 

"Nay.  I  am  not  so  low  as  other  servants  who 
urge  my  treachery.  I  sent  the  messenger  back  at 
full  speed  to  the  castle,  curtly  telling  them  that  I 
would  serve  my  Queen  and  my  country  as  long  as  it 
lay  in  my  power  honourably  so  to  do,  but  that  be 
fore  I  would  countenance  your  Majesty's  execution 
I  demanded  Elizabeth's  signature  and  the  great  seal 
of  England  upon  the  warrant." 

"How  can  I  thank  you,  Sir  Amias?  You  may 
lose  your  office  and  mayhap  your  life  for  this  defi 
ance." 

"I  care  not ;  for  a  clear  conscience  and  the  knowl 
edge  that  I  have  acted  an  honourable  part  are  more 
to  me  than  rank  or  fortune.  But  this  attempt  por 
tends  much  evil.  You  must  strike  quickly  if  you 
would  avert  the  fate  that  they  are  preparing  for  you. 
France  and  Spain  have  already  interposed  in  your 
behalf;  and  if  you  would  send  a  messenger  to  the 
Queen,  I  will  do  all  in  my  power  to  set  him  speedily 
on  his  road.  Your  minister,  Sir  James  Melville, 
who  is  visiting  you,  is  a  shrewd  gentleman  and  well 
known  at  the  French  and  Spanish  courts.  He  is 
your  loyal  subject,  and  would  lay  down  his  life  in 
your  service.  Let  him  hasten  to  Elizabeth,  and  use 
his  best  endeavours  to  soften  her  heart  and  cause  her 
to  remit  your  punishment.  If  he  advocates  banish 
ment  to  France,  Her  Majesty  may  so  incline,  for 
there  you  will  be  unable  to  do  her  any  harm." 


236  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"And  I  wish  her  none,"  said  Mary  Stuart, 
"though  she  has  kept  me  a  close  prisoner  for  eighteen 
years  and  robbed  me  of  my  health  and  beauty.  Still 
I  would  freely  forgive  her  and  pray  for  her  salvation 
if  I  might  walk  in  the  free  air  again  and  once  more 
see  my  son.  But  your  advice  is  good,  and  I  will 
despatch  Melville  at  once,  though  the  fates  tell  me 
that  my  doom  is  sealed." 

"Be  of  stout  heart,  your  Majesty.  While  there  is 
life,  hope  remains,"  said  Paulet,  and  he  departed  in 
search  of  the  Scottish  Embassador. 

Late  the  following  afternoon,  as  Elizabeth  was 
seated  in  her  garden  in  conversation  with  the  Earl 
of  Leicester,  her  secretary,  Davison,  hurried  across 
the  terrace,  and  bowing  profoundly,  informed  her 
that  an  envoy  had  arrived  from  Mary  Stuart  and  in 
sisted  upon  seeing  her  at  once.  Her  brows  contracted 
in  an  ominous  frown  and  she  stamped  her  foot  im 
patiently  : 

"I  thought  Paulet  would  have  rendered  her  incapa 
ble  of  sending  messages  ere  this,  Davison.  Though 
he  is  one  of  the  company  sworn  to  protect  my  life, 
he  is  hike-warm  in  carrying  out  my  express  com 
mand." 

"Your  Majesty,  he  refuses  to  act  without  your 
commission,  duly  delivered  in  correct  form." 

"Does  the  damned,  soft-hearted  fool  think  to  con 
tinue  in  my  favour  if  he  thus  mocks  my  authority?" 
snorted  the  angry  Queen.  "Dudley,  what  think  you  ? 
Shall  we  send  this  fellow  scuttling  back  to  Fother- 
ingay  accompanied  by  the  bearer  of  his  sovereign's 
death-warrant  ?" 


The  Queen  of  Scots  237 

"Nay,  your  Majesty.  'Twere  wiser  to  receive  the 
message  that  he  bears." 

Elizabeth  thought  a  moment. 

"Davison,"  she  said,  "ask  my  ladies  to  withdraw, 
and  send  Melville  to  me  here ;  nay,  Leicester,  I  desire 
your  presence  at  the  interview,"  she  quickly  inter 
posed,  as  the  Earl  rose  to  depart  with  the  secretary. 
He  reseated  himself,  and  in  a  few  moments  Sir 
James  Melville  was  ushered  into  the  garden. 

The  Queen  was  much  struck  with  his  manly 
beauty  and  noble  bearing,  and  smiled  graciously  in 
response  to  his  deferential  bow. 

"You  come  from  Mary  Stuart  ?"  she  said,  shortly. 

"Yes,  your  Majesty.  But  I  act  also  on  the  author 
ity  of  the  Kings  of  Spain  and  France,  whose  com 
mission  I  bear.  You  have  kept  the  Scottish  Queen 
a  prisoner  for  many  weary  years,  and  we  do  now 
most  humbly  petition  that  you  grant  her  her  life,  on 
condition  that  she  will  forever  take  up  her  residence 
in  France  and  add  her  vows  to  the  king's  plighted 
word  that  she  will  never  set  foot  upon  English  soil 
again,  or  by  word  of  mouth  or  secret  act  instigate 
rebellion  or  interfere  with  your  authority  as  Queen 
of  England  and  Scotland." 

Elizabeth  looked  at  Leicester.  "By  my  faith,  he 
speaks  fairly,"  said  she,  "and  does  much  incline  me 
to  a  gracious  mood.  Eighteen  years  of  prison  life 
must  indeed  have  broken  her  indomitable  spirit,  and 
if  she  were  at  Paris  I  need  never  trouble  my  head 
about  her  again.  Besides,  Philip  has  no  taste  for 
meddling  with  the  affairs  of  France,  and  will  not 


238  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

further  press  his  suit  upon  Mary.  Sir  James,  what 
would  you  say  if  I  granted  pardon  to  your  Queen  ?" 

"I  would  say  that  you  have  risen  above  all 
thoughts  of  self  in  your  nobility,  and  that  I  will  ever 
defend  thy  fame  from  its  detractors,  with  my  life  if 
need  be,  and  I  would  humbly  bow  my  head  and  kiss 
the  hem  of  your  gown  in  gratitude  for  your  clem 
ency  to  my  beautiful  mistress." 

"'is  she  so  beautiful,  Melville?" 

"As  the  day  is  long,  your  Majesty." 

"Is  she  more  pleasing  to  look  upon  than  I  ?" 

Sir  James,  with  ready  wit,  saw  the  tendency  of 
her  remarks  and  determined  to  work  upon  her 
vanity. 

"Most  noble  Queen,"  he  answered  tactfully,  "your 
beauty  is  imperishable,  and  none  dare  hope  to  match 
it." 

Elizabeth  smiled  contentedly,  and,  picking  up  a 
lute  that  lay  on  the  sward  by  her  chair,  she  softly 
thrummed  its  strings  for  a  moment  and  then  sang 
in  a  full  rich  voice  a  verse  of  a  melodious  love  song, 
while  the  minister  bowed  his  head  in  rapt  attention. 

When  she  had  finished  she  cast  aside  the  instru 
ment. 

"And  how  does  she  compare  with  me  in  musical 
attainments  ?" 

Sir  James  clasped  his  hands. 

"Your  Majesty  is  a  veritable  Loreley,"  he  said, 
"and  would  lure  your  hearers  on  to  swift  and  certain 
destruction  with  your  wondrous  notes." 

The  Queen  simpered  and  reveled  in  his  flattery, 
though  it  was  hard  for  the  honest  Scotchman  to 


The  Queen  of  Scots  239 

conceal  his  disgust;  but  he  had  a  part  to  act  and 
must  proceed  with  caution  if  he  would  save  his 
mistress. 

She  then  conversed  with  him  in  German,  in  Span 
ish,  and  in  French,  entering  into  a  discussion  of  the 
peculiarities  of  each  language,  and  asking  him  if 
Mary  Stuart  was  as  expert  a  linguist  as  herself. 

"Nay.  Though  she  speaks  each  tongue  moder 
ately  well,  she  does  still  mar  them  somewhat  with 
the  Scottish  accent,  while  the  fluency  of  your  Majes 
ty's  speech  may  not  be  disputed." 

Elizabeth's  nature  expanded  under  his  compli 
ments. 

"Leicester,"  she  said,  "I  can  see  no  danger  in 
this  woman.  She  is  so  far  beneath  me  in  intellectual 
accomplishments  that  surely  none  would  turn  to  her 
standard,  even  if  she  remained  in  England." 

The  light  of  hope  shone  in  Melville's  eyes,  and 
she  arose  and  again  addressed  him : 

"How  does  she  compare  with  me  in  stature  ?"  she 
asked. 

"Mary  Stuart  is  the  taller  of  the  two,"  he  an 
swered. 

"Then  she  is  wrongly  proportioned,"  quickly  re 
torted  the  Queen,  "for  as  all  the  world  knows,  I  am 
of  exactly  the  right  height  for  a  woman,  and  of 
perfect  symmetry." 

"'Tis  undisputed,  your  Majesty,"  said  Melville, 
with  a  bow. 

Her  next  move  almost  took  his  breath  away,  and 
caused  even  the  imperturbable  Leicester  to  frown. 
She  stepped  to  the  centre  of  the  walk  and,  drawing 


240  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

up  her  train,  seized  her  skirts  in  both  hands,  and 
raising  them  almost  to  her  knees  began  stepping  off 
the  measures  of  the  latest  court  dance,  which  had 
been  recently  introduced  from  France.  As  her 
spirits  arose  in  her  enthusiasm  she  forgot  all 
thoughts  of  modesty,  and  whirled  through  its 
mazes  with  much  abandonment  and  a  generous  dis 
play  of  queenly  hosiery. 

Melville  was  deeply  shocked  at  this  vulgar  action 
of  the  Queen,  and  when  she  stopped  suddenly,  and 
holding  her  hand  over  her  rapidly  beating  heart 
turned  her  flushed  face  to  him  and  panted : 

"Does  she  rival  me  in  the  Terpischorean  art?" 
he  could  not  help  replying : 

"My  mistress  does  dance  lower  and  more  dis- 
posedly  than  your  Majesty." 

Instantly  he  saw  his  mistake,  for  the  Queen  turned 
upon  him  with  flashing  eyes,  fairly  screaming  in  her 
rage. 

"Then  she  will  never  dance  again!"  she  shouted. 
"Get  you  gone  from  my  palace  as  fast  as  your 
Scotch  legs  can  carry  you,  and  tell  your  mistress 
to  prepare  her  neck  for  the  kiss  of  the  executioner's 
blade.  Ope  not  your  lips  or  I  will  lay  my  hand 
across  your  mouth.  I'll  show  the  slut  who  is  mis 
tress  of  England." 

Leicester  rose  to  protest,  but  Elizabeth  turned 
upon  him  in  her  fury : 

"  'Twill  be  time  enough  for  your  suggestions 
when  you  share  my  throne,  Robert  Dudley,"  she 
said;  "and  if  you  would  not  be  dismissed  with  this 
embassador  forever  from  my  court,  you  will  seek 


The  Queen  of  Scots  241 

Davison  at  once  and  command  him  to  bring  me 
Mary  Stuart's  death-warrant  in  readiness  for  my 
signature."  She  turned  upon  her  heel  and  entered 
the  palace,  going  at  once  to  the  royal  chamber. 


On  the  third  day  of  February,  Sir  James  Melville 
rode  dejectedly  into  the  courtyard  of  Fotheringay 
Castle,  and  gaining  admittance  sought  his  sovereign 
at  once.  She  greeted  him  eagerly,  but  his  downcast 
countenance  quickly  stifled  the  hope  in  her  breast. 

"Your  Highness,"  he  said,  "you  must  prepare 
yourself  for  the  worst.  I  have  failed  in  my  attempt ; 
and  'twere  better  that  I  had  never  sought  the  Queen, 
for  it  was  through  the  agency  of  my  own  faithless 
tongue  that  your  doom  was  finally  sealed" ;  and  he 
related  to  her  the  details  of  his  strange  interview 
with  England's  ruler. 

When  he  had  finished,  the  Queen  took  both  his 
hands  in  hers  and  looked  gently  into  his  tearful 
eyes. 

"Nay,  I  know  your  faithful  heart  too  well,  Sir 
James,"  said  she;  "  'twas  through  no  fault  of  yours 
that  I  am  to  die.  Elizabeth  but  sought  an  excuse 
to  condemn  me,  and  acted  thus  in  mockery  of  your 
attempt  to  save  me." 

"Do  you  fear  the  end,  my  Queen?"  he  asked. 

"Nay.  He  is  not  worthy  of  the  joys  of  Heaven 
whose  body  cannot  suffer  the  stroke  of  the  execu 
tioner,  and  I  will  welcome  his  sharp  blade,  for  it  will 
set  my  tortured  spirit  free.  No  one  knows  the 
agony  I  have  endured  through  all  the  years." 


242  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"There  is  one  hope,  your  Majesty.  If  you  will 
renounce  your  faith,  Elizabeth  will  be  compelled  to 
spare  your  life." 

Mary  Stuart's  eyes  flashed  fire,  and  she  answered 
Melville  almost  fiercely : 

"I  was  born  a  Catholic,  and  I  will  die  a  Catholic. 
I  thought  you  a  better  friend  than  to  counsel  the 
destruction  of  my  soul's  salvation.  Though  mortal 
hands  may  sever  the  thread  of  my  life,  they  cannot 
prevent  my  triumphant  spirit  from  dwelling  in 
immortality  in  the  true  faith." 

Four  days  afterwards,  the  Earls  of  Kent  and 
Shrewsbury  arrived  at  Fotheringay,  bearing  the 
Queen's  warrant  for  Mary  Stuart's  execution. 
Though  it  was  late  in  the  evening,  they  commanded 
Sir  Amias  Paulet  to  convey  them  to  her  chamber, 
where  with  cruel  abruptness  they  read  to  her  the 
fatal  document. 

Contrary  to  their  expectation,  she  listened  calmly 
until  they  had  done,  and  then  gave  a  sigh  of  relief 
and  smiled  sweetly,  as  though  their  visit  was  most 
welcome.  She  asked  the  hour  set  for  her  death, 
and,  when  told  that  she  must  be  in  readiness  by 
eight  o'clock  the  following  morning,  she  bowed  and 
said,  "I  must  arise  early,  my  Lords,"  and  turned 
away. 

When  they  had  withdrawn  she  summoned  her 
weeping  servants  and  divided  her  articles  of  jewelry 
and  personal  adornment  impartially  amongst  them. 
She  then  dismissed  them  saying  she  had  some  let 
ters  to  write,  bidding  only  Sir  James  Melville  to 
remain. 


The  Queen  of  Scots  243 

She  dictated  her  will  to  her  sobbing  minister  and, 
that  done,  directed  him  to  bring  her  parchment  and 
a  quill.  The  first  epistle  she  indited  was  to  Eliza 
beth.  It  was  brief  and  bore  no  malice.  It  read : 

"DEAR  MADAME:  I  freely  forgive  you  for  the 
punishment  you  are  inflicting  upon  me,  and  my  last 
prayer  on  the  scaffold  will  be  that  you  may  be  con 
verted  to  my  faith.  You  and  I  have  both  loved,  and 
it  has  been  my  destruction;  but  I  entreat  you  to 
make  amends  in  honourable  wedlock  with  Robert 
Dudley  for  the  long  years  that  you  have  spent  in 
secret  amours  with  the  Earl.  'Tis  the  only  way 
in  which  you  may  hope  to  enter  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven  and  avoid  the  tortures  of  hell. 

"I  most  humbly  thank  you  for  my  soul's  release 
from  its  earthly  shell.  My  one  regret  is  that  I  may 
not  embrace  my  boy,  who  will  one  day  be  the  King 
of  England. 

"Your  sister  Queen  and  resigned  cousin, 

"MARYE  STUART." 

She  sealed  the  letter  and  requested  Melville  to 
address  it;  then  she  wrote  a  brief  farewell  to  the 
French  monarch,  and  a  longer  letter  to  the  King  of 
Spain,  closing  it  with  the  following  paragraph : 

"And  I  do  beseech  your  Majesty  to  fit  out  a  fleet 
and  to  attack  the  Island  at  the  earliest  opportunity. 
The  parsimonious  Queen  does  deny  her  ministers 
appropriations  for  the  outfitting  of  an  army  and  for 
the  provision  of  proper  defenses  against  besiegers. 
The  unprepared  condition  of  her  sea-coast,  and  the 


244  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

crews  of  her  ships,  turned  mutinous  by  ill-treatment 
and  lack  of  pay,  will  render  the  contest  simple  for 
your  trained  and  mighty  forces.  I  feel  confident 
that  you  will  spread  our  faith  throughout  the  Prot 
estant  Ruler's  kingdom,  and  will  consummate  her 
downfall,  though  I  am  denied  the  privilege  of  shar 
ing  your  throne  and  your  success.  I  will  never  see 
you  again  upon  this  earth,  but  I  die  happy  in  the 
knowledge  that  we  will  abide  together  in  Eternity." 

When  she  had  entrusted  her  last  letter  to  Melville, 
she  begged  him  to  leave  her,  saying  that  she  would 
seek  repose,  and  enjoined  him  to  awaken  her  at  sun 
rise.  He  seized  her  hand  and  kissed  it  fervently, 
sobbing  like  a  child  as  he  left  the  room.  She  sought 
her  couch  as  soon  as  he  had  gone  and  slept  peacefully 
until  morning,  when  she  was  aroused  by  her  mourn 
ful  attendants.  She  arose  and  robed  herself  with  ela 
borate  care  in  a  skirt  and  bodice  of  black  satin,  over 
which  she  placed  a  long  mantle  trimmed  with  fur 
and  embroidered  with  gold.  She  wore  a  head-dress 
of  white  crepe  and  a  long  veil  trimmed  with  lace, 
and  around  her  neck  she  hung  a  chain  of  golden 
beads,  from  which  was  suspended  a  heavy  cross. 

She  had  barely  completed  her  toilet  when  there 
was  a  loud  summons  at  her  door  and  the  Earls  en 
tered  to  conduct  her  to  the  scaffold.  She  begged 
their  indulgence  for  a  brief  space,  and,  kneeling  at 
her  altar,  she  prayed  for  the  forgiveness  of  her  ene 
mies  and  her  future  salvation.  Then  she  arose  un 
assisted  and  signified  her  readiness.  Sir  Amias 
Paulet  stepped  forward  and  offered  her  his  arm, 


The  Queen  of  Scots  245 

which  she  took  with  a  murmured  expression  of  her 
gratitude,  and  holding  her  cross  tightly  in  her  free 
hand  was  conducted  to  the  Hall  of  Execution. 

The  great  room  was  draped  in  black  and  in  the 
centre  was  a  huge  scaffold  covered  with  black  cloth, 
on  which  rested  a  low  stool  and  the  headsman's 
block.  She  walked  firmly  to  the  scaffold,  ascending 
it  with  Sir  Amias's  assistance,  and  seated  herself 
calmly  upon  the  stool.  As  she  surveyed  the  group 
of  nobles  who  had  come  to  do  the  bidding  of  their 
Queen,  a  ray  of  the  morning  sun,  which  struck 
through  an  upper  window,  shone  briefly  upon  her 
handsome  face  and  cast  a  dazzling  reflection  from 
the  golden  cross  in  her  hand.  The  witnesses  were 
amazed  to  see  the  change  which  her  last  imprison 
ment  had  effected  in  the  unfortunate  Queen.  Her 
hair  was  as  gray  as  a  woman's  of  twice  her  age, 
though  her  features  still  preserved  their  youthful 
beauty;  and  a  wave  of  pity  thrilled  the  breasts  of 
every  inmate  of  the  chamber  as  she  bowed  her  head 
to  listen  to  the  reading  of  the  death-warrant. 

When  it  had  been  completed  she  raised  her  cross 
on  high  and  prayed  in  Latin  to  her  Saviour,  hearing 
which  the  Dean  of  Peterborough  stepped  to  her 
side  and  offered  her  the  consolation  of  his  prayers. 

"Nay,"  she  said,  "I  am  not  of  your  faith.  You 
do  not  recognize  the  true  cross,  which  is  my  com 
fort,  and  which  will  be  the  last  image  in  my  glazing 
eyes  when  the  executioner  has  done  his  work." 

He  insisted  upon  serving  her,  but  she  turned  to 
Sir  Amias  Paulet,  saying: 


246  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"May  I  not  be  allowed  to  die  in  peace?  I  beg 
you  to  spare  me  the  mouthings  of  this  minister." 

Paulet  curtly  ordered  the  Dean  to  attend  in  silent 
prayer,  and  as  he  drew  apart  she  dropped  to  her 
knees,  and  fervently  kissing  her  cross  raised  her 
hands  to  Heaven  as  she  exclaimed : 

"As  thy  arms,  my  God,  were  extended  on  a  cross, 
so  receive  me  into  the  arms  of  thy  mercy.  Extend 
to  me  thy  forbearance  and  pardon  me  all  my  sins." 
Then  she  slowly  arose  and  seated  herself  upon  the 
stool.  The  executioner,  his  face  covered  by  his  black 
mask,  stepped  forward  and  dropped  upon  his  knees 
at  her  feet,  begging  her,  as  was  the  custom  of  the 
time,  to  forgive  him  for  her  death. 

"I  forgive  you  with  all  my  heart,"  she  said,  "for 
in  this  hour  I  hope  you  will  bring  an  end  to  all  my 
troubles." 

As  he  arose  and  laid  his  hand  upon  her  neck  to 
unfasten  her  bodice  she  gently  pushed  his  arm 
away  and  calmly  disrobed,  removing  her  waist  and 
sleeves,  and  arranging  her  hair  so  that  the  heads 
man's  blade  might  have  no  obstruction. 

As  the  executioner  again  approached,  bearing  his 
cruel  axe,  she  gave  a  start  of  surprise,  for  she  had 
fondly  believed  that  she  was  to  be  accorded  the  privi 
lege  granted  to  the  royal  personages  of  France  of 
being  beheaded  by  the  sword.  However,  she  said 
nothing,  and  he  assisted  her  to  arise  and  conducted 
her  to  the  block,  where  she  refused  to  allow  her 
arms  to  be  bound,  though  she  called  her  lady,  Jane 
Kennedy,  who  tearfully  fastened  a  bandage  around 
her  eyes.  Then  she  knelt  and  laid  her  noble  head 


The  Queen  of  Scots  247 

upon  the  block,  and  as  the  headsman's  axe  was  raised, 
her  last  words,  "In  manus  tuas,  Domine,"  rang 
through  the  hall,  and  pierced  the  very  souls  of  the 
henchmen  of  Elizabeth. 

As  the  cruel  blade  fell  and  snapped  the  thread  of 
her  troubled  life,  the  last  obstacle  to  an  uninter 
rupted  reign  was  swept  from  the  path  of  England's 
Virgin  Queen. 


CHAPTER  XIX 
ROYAL  IRE 

The  formal  opening  of  the  Queen's  court  at  Wind 
sor  was  to  be  attended  by  the  presentation  of  Shakes 
peare's  latest  and  most  ambitious  play,  in  which  it 
was  whispered  that  he  dealt  with  the  life  and  love 
of  Elizabeth's  royal  father,  King  Henry  the  Eighth. 
Her  Majesty  had  proclaimed  the  day  a  holiday  at 
the  castle  and  had  decreed  that  her  pleasure  was  not 
to  be  marred  by  the  intrusion  of  any  business  affairs 
or  by  the  sight  of  her  menials  performing  their 
tasks,  hence  an  air  of  quietude  reigned  in  the  court 
yard  and  but  few  of  the  royal  guardsmen  were  on 
duty. 

In  a  corner  of  Anne  Holcombe's  laundry,  our 
friend  Roger  Covert  sat  with  chair  a-tilt  and  feet 
eocked  up  on  an  inverted  tub,  vigourously  puffing 
on  a  long  clay  pipe  and  sending  up  clouds  of  curling 
smoke  that  soon  hung  in  perfumed  vapour  above 
the  lines  of  bleaching  linen.  His  sweetheart,  wrho 
was  sitting  in  a  low  chair  and  taking  advantage  of 
her  day  of  rest  by  working  a  lace  kerchief  for  her 
neck,  suddenly  arose,  and  walking  quickly  to  Rog 
er's  side  snatched  the  pipe  out  of  his  mouth  and 
dashed  it  upon  the  oaken  floor,  much  to  the  sur 
prise  of  her  lover. 


Royal  Ire  249 

"I'll  teach  you,"  she  said,  "to  scent  the  linen  of 
my  Queen  with  the  vile  fumes  of  your  rank  weed. 
Why,  'tis  likely  to  cost  me  my  laundry,  if  her  dainty 
nose  perceives  the  odour  of  tobacco  in  her  garments. 
By  my  faith !  you'll  not  smoke  in  a  lady's  presence 
when  we  are  married,  Master  Roger.  I  must  have 
been  beside  myself  to  let  you  go  so  far." 

"May  the  saints  confound  you,  Anne,  but  you 
have  a  villainous  temper,"  protested  Covert,  as  he 
ruefully  gathered  up  the  broken  bits  of  his  precious 
pipe.  "I  will  smoke  when  we  are  married,  or  mar 
ried  we  shall  not  be." 

"Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  would  give  me  up 
before  you  would  forsake  tobacco?" 

"Aye,  and  that  I  do,"  said  the  angered  man.  "I 
know  a  handsome  wench  in  the  scullery  who  would 
not  object  to  my  pipe,  and  she  keeps  a  civil  tongue 
in  her  head,  and  I  could  live  a  life  of  peace  and 
quietness  without  being  berated  at  every  turn." 

"You  may  go  to  her  as  quickly  as  you  like," 
loftily  replied  the  laundress,  "and  I  will  not  have  to 
seek  far  for  a  guardsman  whose  countenance  will 
lack  the  forbidding  scar  that  disfigures  your  own." 

Covert  arose  excitedly. 

"Shame  on  you,  Anne,"  he  protested,  "to  taunt  a 
man  with  his  ugliness.  But  for  all  their  pretty  faces 
and  winsome  graces  I  much  prefer  my  scar,  for  it 
marks  a  turning-point  in  my  life,  the  date  of  my 
meeting  with  my  good  friend  and  master,  William 
Shakespeare,  and  the  beginning  of  my  reformation. 
However,  I  will  not  offend  your  vision  longer,  but 
will  carry  my  foul  features  to  some  more  hospitable 


250  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

threshold."  He  picked  up  his  hat,  and  thrusting 
it  sullenly  upon  his  head,  strode  rapidly  to  the  door ; 
but  as  he  darted  a  quick  glance  over  his  shoulder  he 
saw  the  maid  drop  upon  a  pile  of  linen  and  bury  her 
face  in  its  soft  folds.  He  stopped  and  silently 
stepped  back  into  the  room,  closing  the  door  with  a 
loud  bang  as  he  did  so.  Then  he  stood  perfectly 
still  and  awaited  developments. 

As  soon  as  the  door  closed  the  girl  burst  into  a 
violent  fit  of  weeping,  muttering  sobbing  protesta 
tions  of  her  love  for  the  guardsman. 

"O  Roger!"  she  wept,  "I  thought  I  was  going 
to  be  so  happy  with  you,  and  now  I  have  driven  you 
away.  I  but  sought  to  plague  you  about  your  pipe, 
but  when  you  threatened  me  with  your  scullery  maid 
I  knew  not  what  I  answered  in  my  anger.  I  never 
thought  you  unfaithful  to  me,  but  now  you  have  con 
fessed  it  of  your  own  free  will.  Oh!  But  I'll 
scratch  the  vixen's  eyes  out  if  ever  I  meet  her  in 
your  company." 

Roger  rubbed  his  nose  and  grinned  in  delight  at 
the  maiden's  repentance. 

"If  you  only  knew,"  she  went  on,  "how  I  risked 
my  life  to  provide  for  our  future  happiness  you 
surely  would  not  desert  me  because  of  a  hasty  word. 
O  Roger,  Roger !  If  you  will  only  come  back  to  me 
I'll  never  speak  crossly  to  you  again,  and  you  may 
smoke  to  your  heart's  content,  and  colour  the 
Queen's  linen  to  match  the  bowl  of  your  pipe,  for 
all  I  care." 


Royal  Ire  251 

The  guardsman  chuckled  softly,  then  tiptoed 
carefully  across  the  room  and  stood  behind  the  weep 
ing  maiden  as  she  still  uttered  her  mournful  plaint : 

"I  won't  live  without  you.  I'll  go  and  drown 
myself  in  the  Thames,  and  when  you  view  my  poor 
body  after  the  waves  have  given  me  up,  you  may 
feel  sorry  for  the  maid  who  loved  you  with  all  her 
heart,  and  was  true  to  you  even  till  death." 

Roger  blinked  furiously  at  her  pathetic  plea,  and 
as  her  tears  burst  out  afresh  he  stooped  gently  and 
kissed  the  back  of  her  pretty  neck  with  a  resounding 
smack.  She  sprang  up  with  a  scream,  and  as  she 
beheld  her  lover,  her  temper  again  arose  at  the 
shame  of  being  caught  in  her  avowal  and  she  deliv 
ered  a  stinging  slap  upon  the  guardsman's  cheek 
with  her  open  hand ;  but,  as  he  laughed  heartily  and 
without  resentment,  her  mood  changed  and  she  sud 
denly  threw  herself  upon  his  breast  and  flung  her 
arms  around  his  neck,  pressing  her  lips  to  his,  and 
kissing  him  again  and  again  as  she  expressed  her 
happiness  in  little  inarticulate  cries  of  delight. 

"Roger,  you  are  a  shameful  fellow  to  make  such  a 
mockery  of  me.  I  do  not  believe  your  story  of  the 
other  maid  at  all;  but  I  care  not  what  may  happen 
since  you  have  come  back  to  me,  for  it  has  taught 
me  a  lesson  and  I  will  never  tease  you  again." 

"How  about  the  other  guardsman  ?"  asked  Covert 
slyly,  and  she  gently  laid  her  hand  on  his  lips  as 
she  answered : 

"Nay.  I  spoke  falsely,  Roger,  and  you  know  it 
full  well.  You  are  the  only  man  for  whom  I  ever 
cared  a  snap  of  my  fingers,  and  I  am  truly  sorry  for 


252  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

what  I  said  about  the  scar.  I  love  you  all  the  more 
for  it,  and  it  was  cruel  to  wound  your  feelings." 

"I  care  not  how  often  you  may  hurt  them,  Anne. 
They  heal  quickly  under  the  wonderful  balm  of  your 
sweet  lips.  But  what  meant  you  when  you  spoke 
just  now  of  risking  your  life  for  me?" 

"I  do  not  remember  it,  Roger.  It  must  have  been 
some  flight  of  my  imagination  in  my  agony  at  your 
departure." 

"Ah,  but  you  are  a  clever  wench.  What  would 
you  say  if  I  guessed  the  riddle?" 

"I  don't  understand  you." 

"A  certain  maiden  undertook  to  earn  five  hundred 
pounds,  that  she  and  her  lover  might  give  up  service 
and  live  forever  in  luxury.  But  a  fleeing  monarch 
returned  to  Spain  alone,  and  the  reward  was  never 
paid.  Am  I  not  a  wizard,  sweetheart?" 

"You  are  the  Evil  One  himself!"  gasped  the  girl, 
as  she  drew  away  from  him  and  sank  on  a  tub  in  her 
amazement.  "You,  too,  must  have  been  in  King 
Philip's  confidence,  for  I  swear  that  he  interviewed 
me  in  person  and  there  were  none  to  hear  us  save  his 
faithful  servitor,  the  Duke  of  Alva." 

"You  forget  that  Elizabeth's  jester  lay  sick  nigh 
unto  death  behind  the  sheets  in  yon  corner." 

A  light  broke  upon  the  maiden  and  she  exclaimed : 

"The  wretch !  He  feigned  sleep,  and  I  was  easily 
gulled  by  his  cunning.  'Twas  an  evil  reward  for  all 
my  care  and  tender  nursing." 

"Nay.  'Twas  the  best  thing  could  have  happened, 
for  by  his  information  my  master  was  enabled  to 


Royal  Ire  253 

warn  the  Queen  and  to  save  her  throne  from  the  con 
spiracy  of  the  Catholic  rulers." 

"But  the  Queen  knows  nothing  of  the  plot.  Roger. 
True,  'twas  her  maiden,  Anne  Hathaway,  that  came 
to  the  Tower  and  acquainted  the  keeper  with  Mary 
Stuart's  intended  escape.  He  was  very  angry  with 
me  and  when  I  was  brought  before  him  he  threatened 
me  with  the  direst  punishment,  but  she  interceded  in 
my  behalf,  and  when  she  told  him  that  Her  Majesty 
was  to  be  kept  in  ignorance,  and  prayed  most  ear 
nestly  for  my  release,  he  relented  and  dismissed  me, 
first  swearing  me  to  allegiance  in  future,  and  telling 
me  that  hereafter  I  would  be  closely  watched.  But 
the  poor  Queen  of  Scotland  is  dead,  alas,  and  all  our 
efforts  went  for  naught.  Besides,  I  lost  my  five  hun 
dred  pounds  and  will  have  to  work  hard  all  my  life." 

"Nay,  Anne,  I  will  tell  you  a  secret  in  my  turn.  I 
have  the  neat  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  stowed 
away,  and  when  we  are  married  you  may  give  up  the 
laundry,  though  of  course  I  will  remain  in  the  serv 
ice  of  my  Queen." 

"Surely  you  come  not  by  it  honestly?" 

"Much  more  honestly  than  it  was  begotten  in  the 
first  place.  'Twas  given  by  Hatton  to  the  Spanish 
assassin  as  his  reward  for  killing  Will  Shakespeare, 
and  I  did  but  save  the  pieces  from  rusting  in  the 
muddy  bottom  of  the  Thames  along  with  his  evil 
carcass,  after  the  fish  finished  him." 

The  maiden  put  her  arms  once  more  around  her 
guardsman. 

"Let  us  never  quarrel  again,  Roger,  for  we  love 
each  other  truly,  even  if  we  are  of  humble  station,  and 


254  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

will  live  together  more  happily  than  any  mighty  king 
or  queen  upon  this  earth.  My  one  fear  is  that  Pulsi- 
fer  Kyd  will  repeat  his  knowledge  of  my  dealing  with 
King  Philip,  and  if  it  once  reaches  the  ear  of  Eliza 
beth  my  head  will  pay  the  forfeit,  for  since  the  execu 
tion  of  Mary  Stuart  two  months  ago  the  council  has 
amended  the  law  and  conferred  upon  her  the  abso 
lute  power  of  condemnation  and  execution  without 
even  the  formality  of  a  trial." 

"Never  fear,  sweetheart,"  said  Roger,  "the  fool  is 
a  good  fellow,  and  despite  his  silly  mask  is  wiser  than 
many  of  the  highest  nobles  of  the  court.  Besides,  he 
owes  us  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  which  he  will  never 
forget,  but  will  help  us  in  turn  if  ever  it  lays  in  his 
power.  What  say  you,  my  dear,  if  I  ask  my  captain 
for  a  fortnight's  leave,  and  bring  a  minister  with  me 
after  the  play  is  over  to-day?" 

"Your  will  is  my  law,"  said  the  laundress,  as  she 
buried  her  head  in  his  bosom.  He  laughed  joyously 
as  he  crushed  her  in  his  tight  embrace,  then  released 
her,  and  darted  through  the  door  and  ran  swiftly 
across  the  court-yard,  bound  for  Shakespeare's 
apartments. 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  royal  pageant 
entered  the  throne-room  and  was  disposed  accord 
ing  to  the  rank  of  its  courtiers  around  the  person  of 
the  Queen.  The  nobles  were  somberly  but  elegantly 
clad,  the  half-mourning  that  they  wore  being  a  mark 
of  respect  to  the  memory  of  Queen  Mary  Stuart  and 
in  imitation  of  their  own  ruler's  example.  However, 
Elizabeth's  black  robe  was  studded  with  diamonds 
and  other  precious  gems ;  and  so  relieved  was  she  at 


Royal  Ire  255 

having  forever  disposed  of  her  poor  cousin  that  she 
was  determined  to  indulge  herself  to  the  utmost  in 
the  delights  of  her  court,  and  seriously  contemplated 
naming  the  day  for  her  wedding  with  the  Earl  of 
Leicester,  who  now,  for  the  first  time,  and  in  viola 
tion  of  all  the  established  rules  of  court  etiquette, 
occupied  the  station  at  her  right  hand. 

A  buzz  arose  amongst  the  courtiers  when  they 
saw  the  Queen  wave  Dudley  to  his  seat,  and  her 
quick  ear  caught  their  murmurs  of  disapproval, 
which  immediately  threw  her  into  an  ugly  temper, 
and  her  suite  soon  felt  the  heavy  weight  of  her  dis 
pleasure,  which  portended  ill  for  the  afternoon's 
enjoyment. 

Pulsifer  Kyd,  the  jester,  occupied  his  accustomed 
place  at  the  Queen's  feet,  looking  fatter  and  jollier 
than  ever  in  his  life  before.  He  felt  the  impending 
storm  and  endeavored  to  turn  Her  Majesty's  mind 
to  thoughts  of  laughter  by  a  merry  quip  at  Sir 
Thomas  Hatton's  expense,  but  she  curtly  told  him  to 
hold  his  tongue,  and  he  subsided. 

Essex,  Southampton,  and  Will  Shakespeare  stood 
near  the  dais.  The  young  Earl  had  fully  recovered 
from  his  wound,  but  still  looked  ill  and  pale  as  the 
result  of  his  long  confinement  to  his  couch.  He  was 
gloriously  happy,  however,  for  he  had  asked  and 
been  granted  an  audience  with  the  Queen  on  the  fol 
lowing  day,  when  he  had  determined  to  inform  her 
of  his  marriage. 

Sir  Walter  Raleigh  and  Sir  Francis  Drake  were 
also  in  attendance,  though  the  rugged  captain  wore 
his  left  arm  in  a  sling  and  never  once  glanced  in  Es 
sex's  direction. 


256  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Elizabeth  glared  about  the  hall,  determined  to  cre 
ate  a  diversion  and  to  remove  attention  from  Leices 
ter.  Suddenly  she  spied  Anne  Hathaway,  standing 
quietly  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  maidens,  with  eyes 
downcast  and  lacking  the  color  that  usually  flamed 
on  her  fair  cheeks.  The  Queen  spoke  shortly  : 

"My  hand-maiden  appears  lonesome.  Is  there  not 
a  gallant  in  all  this  simpering  court  to  bear  her  com 
pany?  By  my  faith,  I'll  command  some  one  of  my 
lords  to  wed  this  girl  before  the  play,  if  the  curtain 
is  much  longer  delayed." 

A  half-dozen  eager  nobles  pressed  quickly  for 
ward,  but  she  feigned  not  to  notice  them. 

"Robert  Devereux,"  she  commanded  sharply,  "do 
you  forsake  your  friends  and  entertain  my  lady  for 
the  balance  of  the  afternoon." 

Essex  had  felt  very  bitter  toward  Anne  Hatha 
way  ever  since  her  snub  of  his  friend  Will  Shakes 
peare  on  the  occasion  of  his  first  appearance  at 
court,  and  he  was  determined  to  have  nothing  to  do 
with  her,  so  he  calmly  continued  his  conversation 
and  paid  no  attention  to  the  order. 

Elizabeth's  eyes  blazed  in  anger.  "My  Lord  of 
Essex,"  she  said,  "are  you  aware  that  you  were  ad 
dressed  by  the  Queen?  You  will  comply  with  my 
command  at  once  or  I  will  have  you  dismissed  from 
the  court." 

Essex  nodded  to  Southampton,  as  though  in  re 
sponse  to  some  query,  and  facing  about,  deliberately 
turned  his  back  upon  Her  Majesty.  At  this  insolent 
and  open  defiance  of  her  authority,  the  Queen's 
smouldering  rage  burst  forth  in  full  flame,  and 


Royal  Ire  257 

throwing  her  dignity  to  the  winds  she  leapt  from 
her  chair  and  strode  down  the  steps  of  the  dais,  kick 
ing  the  jester  out  of  the  way  in  her  descent.  She 
rushed  upon  Essex  and  fetched  him  a  sounding  blow 
upon  either  cheek,  first  with  her  right  and  then  with 
her  left  hand,  cursing  him  furiously  the  while. 

The  Earl  calmly  turned  and  scrutinized  her  coolly 
for  a  moment. 

"If  you  were  a  man,  your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "I 
might  have  the  pleasure  of  dealing  with  you  as  I  did 
with  your  captain,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh;  but  as  you 
are  only  a  silly  woman,  and  have  violated  all  the 
bounds  of  propriety  by  seating  your  favourite  at  your 
right  hand,  you  need  not  expect  the  submission  and 
service  of  your  outraged  courtiers.  Go  back  to  your 
throne,  and  the  next  time  you  play  at  striking  earls, 
slap  one  nearer  home." 

For  some  unaccountable  reason  the  bold  woman 
quailed  at  his  daring  thrust,  and  facing  about, 
walked  quietly  to  her  station,  never  referring  again, 
either  in  public  or  in  private,  to  the  incident,  and 
Anne  Hathaway  spent  the  remainder  of  the  after 
noon  without  the  companionship  of  an  escort. 

The  tension  was  relieved  by  the  rise  of  the  curtain, 
and  Shakespeare's  friends  fondly  hoped  that  the  un 
pleasant  episode  would  soon  be  forgotten  in  the 
Queen's  enjoyment  of  his  play ;  but  they  were  doom 
ed  to  disappointment,  for  during  the  first  scenes  she 
was  restless  and  abstracted,  turning  to  Leicester  fre 
quently  and  conversing  on  some  foreign  subject. 

At  the  entrance  of  Catherine  of  Aragon,  however, 
her  attention  became  diverted  and  she  listened  breath- 


258  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

lessly  to  the  words  that  fell  from  the  noble  Queen's 
lips;  but  as  the  waning  love  of  Elizabeth's  royal 
father  and  his  amours  with  the  beautiful  Anne  Boleyn 
were  depicted,  her  anger  arose,  and  she  would  have 
arisen  and  interrupted  the  play  had  not  Dudley  laid 
his  hand  upon  her  arm  and  restrained  her.  When 
the  curtain  fell  upon  the  act,  she  turned  quickly  to 
her  favourite : 

"Leicester,"  she  said,  "what  think  you  of  this  inso 
lence  ?  Why,  the  wrongs  of  Catherine  are  presented 
most  piteously,  and  she  is  pictured  as  a  saint,  while 
my  own  martyred  mother  is  made  but  little  better 
than  a  wanton.  I  tell  you  I  will  not  brook  such 
license.  If  I  but  extend  my  hand  in  gracious  favour, 
'tis  turned  upon  and  bitten  by  the  curs.  I've  treated 
this  fellow  Shakespeare  too  well,  and,  by  my  faith, 
should  send  him  to  prison  for  this  infamy." 

"Nay,  nay,  your  Majesty.  Tis  but  a  play,  and  his 
imagination  has  run  riot.  He  means  no  disrespect. 
Let  us  await  the  unraveling  of  the  plot  ere  you  pass 
judgment." 

The  Queen  subsided  and  witnessed  the  further 
progress  of  the  performance  in  sullen  silence,  and  the 
faces  of  her  courtiers,  taking  pattern  of  Her  Majes 
ty's  scowling  visage,  wore  every  one  the  aspect  of  a 
frown.  When  the  final  scene  opened,  and,  amidst  a 
flourish  of  trumpets,  her  own  name  was  announced, 
she  grasped  Leicester's  arm,  and  a  pleased  smile 
o'erspread  her  face,  and  as  the  Archbishop  of  Canter 
bury  predicted  his  glorious  future  for  the  child 
Queen  she  fairly  beamed  and  forgot  all  her  anger  as 
her  vanity  expanded  under  the  spoken  praise. 


Royal  Ire  259 

But  her  happiness  was  short-lived,  and  its  knell 
sounded  when,  following  King  Henry's  interruption, 
Cranmer  uttered  his  fatal  prophecy : 

"She  shall  be,  to  the  happiness  of  England, 
An  aged  princess ;  many  days  shall  see  her, 
And  yet  no  day  without  a  deed  to  crown  it. 
Would  I  had  known  no  more !  but  she  must  die, 
She  must,  the  Saints  must  have  her ;  yet  a  virgin, 
A  most  unspotted  lily  shall  she  pass 
To  the  ground,  and  all  the  world  shall  mourn  her." 

She  hardly  waited  till  the  close  of  the  speech,  ere 
she  was  on  her  feet  and  storming  so  furiously  that 
the  curtain  was  lowered  before  the  rendition  of  the 
last  lines  of  the  play.  Her  veins  swelled  purple  upon 
her  temples,  and  raising  both  hands,  she  tore  her 
enormous  ruff  away  from  her  neck  in  the  excess  of 
her  passion. 

"Am  I  to  be  made  sport  of  in  my  own  castle  by 
this  damned  upstart  of  a  poet !"  she  screamed.  "  'An 
aged  princess,  and  yet  a  virgin/  Oh !  you'll  rue  the 
day  you  mocked  Elizabeth.  And  my  very  death  is 
flaunted  in  my  face.  'Tis  a  crime  to  even  think  of 
the  death  of  such  a  Queen  as  I  am,  for,  by  the  Gods, 
the  fates  assure  me  that  I  am  immortal.  Immor 
tal,  do  you  hear!  and  yet  this  hell-hound  cries  my 
death/' 

She  turned  to  Sir  Thomas  Hatton,  and  fixing  him 
with  her  out-stretched  arm  and  pointing  finger,  com 
manded  in  accents  hoarse  with  rage : 

"Hatton,  you  skulking  varlet,  run  to  my  secre 
tary,  Davison,  as  fast  as  your  treacherous  legs  can 
carry  you,  and  summon  him  to  my  presence  with  a 


260  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

warrant  for  Master  William  Shakespeare's  convey 
ance  to  the  Tower,  and  his  execution  at  dawn  to 
morrow  morning.  Leicester,  you  will  see  that  he 
is  placed  under  guard  forthwith.  We'll  see  if  Ra 
leigh's  poet,  Edmund  Spenser,  may  not  consign  this 
fellow's  memory  to  quick  oblivion  by  his  master 


CHAPTER  XX 
IN  THE  TOWER 

As  the  April  sun  was  sinking  behind  the  gable 
of  the  Tower,  Sir  Amias  Paulet  sat  in  his  lodging, 
to  which  he  had  been  returned  after  the  death  of 
Mary  Stuart.  He  was  sadly  perusing  a  document 
which  called  for  the  execution  of  the  poet  Shakes 
peare  at  six  o'clock  the  following  morning,  when 
his  door  suddenly  opened  and  the  heavily  cloaked 
figure  of  a  woman  swiftly  entered  the  room.  He 
looked  wonderingly  at  her  muffled  face  until  she 
threw  her  hood  aside  and  disclosed  the  features  of 
Anne  Hathaway,  then  he  arose  quickly  and  prof 
fered  her  a  seat,  which  she  refused,  saying : 

"Sir  Amias,  I  have  come  to  you  with  a  simple 
request.  I  pray  you  for  a  few  moments  of  con 
versation  with  your  prisoner,  and  at  once,  for  Her 
Majesty  will  miss  me  if  I  linger  here." 

"It  is  impossible,  my  Lady,"  responded  the  keeper. 
"By  the  Queen's  express  order  I  am  enjoined  to 
deny  admittance,  absolutely.  The  Earls  of  Essex 
and  Southampton  have  both  been  here  and  most 
vigorously  demanded  an  interview  with  their  friend, 
and  likewise  his  attendant,  the  guardsman  Roger 
Covert,  who  was  hardest  of  all  to  dispose  of;  but 
I  was  compelled  to  dismiss  them,  and  the  poor  play- 


262  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

wright  is  to  die  without  the  comforting  presence  of 
a  single  dear  one  or  a  friendly  hand-clasp  in  fare 
well." 

"But,  Sir  Amias,"  she  pleaded,  "I  have  always 
been  a  favourite  with  you;  do  not  deny  me  the 
only  boon  that  I  have  ever  asked ;  none  will  find  it 
out,  for  I  will  be  as  secret  as  the  grave." 

"Nay,  my  dear,  although  it  pains  me  much,  I 
must  refuse.  I  esteem  you  dearly,  but  I  hold  my 
honour  proof  against  your  pleading." 

"And  thereby  you  are  in  my  debt,  Sir  Amias, 
for  you  owe  it  to  me  that  your  honour  still  remains 
untarnished  and  not  unthroned." 

"What  do  you  mean,  girl  ?" 

"Think  you  that  Elizabeth  would  have  spared  her 
gaoler,  if  the  Queen  of  Scots  had  reached  King 
Philip's  ship  and  sailed  with  him  to  Spain?  Nay, 
Sir  Amias.  You  would  have  been  degraded  before 
the  whole  court  and  your  much-vaunted  pride  would 
have  been  dragged  in  the  dust,  if  an  humble  maiden 
of  the  Queen  had  not  sped  to  you  and  whispered  a 
word  of  warning  in  your  ear." 

Paulet  spread  his  palms  in  dismay. 

"You  torture  me,  Anne,"  he  said.  "I  realize  that 
you  command  my  gratitude,  but  ask  me  any  other 
service  and  'twill  be  gratefully  rendered." 

"Nay,  'tis  the  only  favour  I  will  ever  demand. 
Please,  please,  grant  me  this  one  request.  'Tis  easy 
of  accomplishment,  and  your  conscience  may  rest  at 
peace  in  the  knowledge  that  you  have  brought  some 
comfort  t®  the  last  hours  of  a  dying  man."  She 
stepped  to  his  side,  and  as  the  elderly  noble  stood 


In  the  Tower  263 

perplexed  and  uncertain,  she  placed  her  lovely  arms 
around  his  neck  and  pleaded  earnestly  for  his  acqui 
escence  to  her  prayer. 

At  last  he  gently  took  her  hands  in  his,  and  releas 
ing  himself  from  her  clasp,  he  sorrowfully  spoke : 

"It  will  be  the  cause  of  much  unquiet  for  my 
troubled  breast,  but  I  am  constrained  to  yield.  I'll 
take  you  to  the  cell  myself  and  stand  guard  outside 
the  door,  so  that  no  overzealous  gaoler  may  become 
aware  of  your  visit.  Oh!  woman,  woman!  Thou 
art  the  cause  of  many  an  honest  soul's  certain  down 
fall!"  He  turned  abruptly,  and  taking  a  ring  of 
enormous  keys  from  the  wall,  he  proceeded  silently 
along  the  corridor  and  up  the  stairs,  the  Queen's 
maiden  following  closely  in  the  rear. 

Shakespeare  sat  at  a  small  table  in  his  prison, 
with  arms  outstretched  and  his  head  resting  on  them 
in  an  attitude  of  despair.  He  had  been  shown  the 
Queen's  order  prohibiting  the  admission  of  his 
friends,  and  even  his  request  for  the  despatching 
of  a  final  message  to  them  had  been  denied.  He  had 
given  up  all  hope  of  earthly  intervention  and  had 
become  resigned  to  his  doom.  The  many  events  of 
his  life  crowded  through  his  brain  as  he  rested  in 
the  dim  light  of  his  cell.  He  thought  of  his  meeting 
with  Leicester  on  the  highway,  of  his  happy  days 
at  school  with  Essex  and  Southampton,  of  his  be 
loved  tutor,  and  of  Henry  Wriothesley's  successful 
wooing  of  his  fair  daughter. 

The  memory  of  his  first  success  before  the  Queen 
surged  upon  him  and  caused  a  thrill  of  joy  in  his 
breast.  Then  the  many  triumphs  that  followed  in 


264  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

quick  succession  danced  before  his  vision.  The 
penalty  of  fame  was  illustrated  in  Sir  Thomas  Hat- 
ton's  jealous  attack  upon  his  life,  which  had  been 
so  easily  averted.  And  now  he  was  to  fall  a  victim 
to  a  fickle  monarch's  ire.  He  had  thought  only  to 
interest  her,  but  his  play  had  given  her  an  excuse  to 
vent  her  spleen  and  he  was  now  in  the  shadow  of 
the  scaffold,  having  lived  his  short  life  of  unremit 
ting  toil  upon  the  road  of  fame,  unloved  and  unat 
tended  by  a  single  creature  of  the  gentle  sex.  And 
did  he  love,  in  turn  ? 

Aye.  He  stifled  a  sob,  as  he  realized  that  he  would 
have  given  up  his  future  at  court,  his  friends,  his  all, 
could  he  but  have  been  assured  of  the  companionship 
of  the  one  woman  amongst  the  many  butterflies  of 
the  Queen's  train,  for  the  balance  of  his  life.  But  it 
was  not  to  be,  and  he  closed  his  eyes,  as  a  feeling  of 
welcome  for  the  executioner's  blade  settled  upon  his 
weary  soul. 

He  failed  to  note  the  click  of  the  opening  lock,  and 
not  until  the  closing  door  jarred  his  senses  did  he 
arouse  and  raise  his  head. 

He  saw  a  woman's  figure  standing  quietly  in  the 
shadow  of  the  falling  twilight,  and  he  sprang  eagerly 
to  his  feet  and  stretched  out  his  hands  in  welcome. 

"Juliet,"  he  said,  "how  did  you  gain  admittance; 
and  have  you  brought  a  message  from  my  friends  ?" 

The  cloaked  form  slowly  shook  its  head  and  a 
strangely  familiar  voice  answered  him : 

"Nay,  you  are  not  favoured  by  a  visit  from  the 
beautiful  Italian,  though  you  must  be  sorely  disap 
pointed  at  this  dashing  of  your  hopes." 


In  the  Tower  265 

As  he  recognized  the  tones  of  Elizabeth's  hand 
maiden,  and  the  realization  dawned  upon  him  that 
the  woman  for  whom  his  soul  had  hungered  stood 
before  him,  he  could  not  repress  a  cry  of  delight. 

In  a  voice  trembling  with  eagerness  he  addressed 
her: 

"What  brings  you  here,  Mistress  Hathaway  ?"  he 
questioned.  "In  the  highest  flights  of  my  imagina 
tion,  I  never  dreamed  that  you  would  seek  my  prison 
cell" ;  and  he  drew  the  single  chair  forward,  pressing 
her  to  be  seated. 

"Nay,"  she  said,  "my  visit  must  not  be  prolonged. 
I  have  come  after  my  garter,  and  to  tell  you  that  I 
am  sorry" ;  and  she  stretched  out  her  hand.  He  took 
it  gently  and  pressed  a  kiss  upon  it.  Then,  stepping 
to  the  table,  he  took  a  silken  packet  from  his 
bosom. 

"I  did  wrong  in  keeping  it,  my  lady,  and  should 
have  sent  it  back  ere  this,  but  some  dim  hope  that 
you  might  ask  for  it  in  person  stayed  my  hand.  'Tis 
your  right  to  have  your  buckle,  and  'twould  have 
been  a  crime  to  have  had  it  found  upon  my  dead 
body  when  the  ruthless  hand  of  the  executioner 
searched  for  his  rightful  booty." 

He  unwound  the  packet  and  laid  its  contents  be 
fore  him  upon  the  stand. 

"These  are  my  treasures,"  he  murmured  softly,  as 
he  took  them  up  one  by  one.  "First,  a  knot  of  rib 
bon  that  fluttered  from  a  haughty  lady's  sleeve  upon 
the  Avon  highway,  many,  many  years  ago.  Next,  a 
jeweled  garter,  most  wrongfully  stolen  and  treasured 
by  an  erring  man.  And  lastly,  a  little  symbol  of  a 


266  The  Romance  of  Gentle  V/ill 

mailed  gauntlet  tightly  clutching  an  assassin's  hand. 
And  though  this  last  token  has  been  of  great  service 
to  me  since  my  advent  at  court,  it  is  of  the  least  value 
of  them  all,  for  I  prize  the  simple  knot  of  ribbon 
above  any  of  my  earthly  possessions." 

He  picked  up  the  tiny  silken  strand  and  pressed  it 
fervently  to  his  lips,  while  the  maiden  sank  into  the 
chair,  her  eyes  opening  wide  in  wonder. 

"The  garter  comes  next,"  he  said,  "though  not 
obtained  so  fairly.  "These  are  the  only  tokens  that 
I  have  ever  had  of  woman.  The  last  is  the  gift  of  a 
noble  lord,  and  even  now  might  save  my  life  if  I  but 
cared  to  avail  myself  of  its  mighty  power.  But  life  is 
not  worth  the  living,  Mistress  Hathaway,  for  I  will 
be  soon  forgot,  and  other  poets  will  sing  the  great 
Queen's  praises  to  the  plaudits  of  her  admiring 
court." 

He  lifted  the  buckle  and  stepped  to  her  side. 

"I  return  you  your  garter  and  express  my  pleas 
ure  in  its  brief  ownership." 

Anne  Hathaway  dropped  her  eyes. 

"Nay,  Master  Shakespeare,  I  have  changed  my 
mind,"  she  said.  "I  knew  not  that  you  prized  it 
much,  and  doubted  not  that  it  now  adorned  the 
knee  of  Juliet  Florio." 

The  poet  looked  at  her  as  he  answered  reproach 
fully: 

"Nay,  I  am  not  so  base.  The  tutor's  daughter 
bears  another  name  than  Florio  this  six  months 
past." 

A  sickening  fear  caused  the  maiden  to  turn  faint 
in  her  chair. 


In  the  Tower  267 

"Do  you  mean  that  you  are  wedded,  Master 
Shakespeare  ?"  she  faintly  gasped. 

"Nay,  but  Juliet  is.  She  became  the  bride  of  my 
good  friend  Henry  Wriothesley  the  day  before  he 
departed  for  his  estate  and  left  her  in  my  charge. 
He  would  have  announced  his  wedding  long  ere  this, 
but  an  unfortunate  wound  which  he  received  in  a 
duel  with  Walter  Raleigh  kept  him  bedfast  in  Lon 
don  since  Christmas  day,  though  I  attended  his  wife 
on  many  visits  of  comfort  to  her  husband. 

"I  pray  you,  Mistress  Hathaway,  to  keep  their 
secret,  for  the  news  was  to  be  announced  to-morrow, 
but  may  be  still  further  delayed  by  my  execution." 

As  he  ceased  speaking  the  tears  burst  from  Anne's 
eyes  and  coursed  down  her  cheeks ;  but  she  brushed 
them  away,  and  leaping  to  her  feet,  clasped  her 
hands,  as  she  addressed  him  in  a  voice  exultant  with 
joy: 

"Thank  God!  Thank  God,  who  in  His  mercy 
brought  me  here  to-day !  I  have  done  a  noble  gen 
tleman  much  injustice,  and  I  have  wilfully  denied 
my  heart  the  measure  that  it  hungered  for." 

"What  do  you  mean,  Mistress  Hathaway  ?" 

"I  mean,  Will  Shakespeare,  that  I  love  you  with 
all  my  heart,  as  never  man  was  loved  by  woman; 
that  I  have  loved  you  from  the  day  I  first  set  eyes 
upon  you  on  the  Avon  road ;  and  that  I  will  love  you 
until  the  grave  enfolds  me,  and  ever  after  through 
the  ages  of  Eternity.  Though,  alas,  there  can  be  no 
answering  chord  within  your  bosom,  for  I  have 
surely  crushed  even  your  pity  by  my  wayward  and 
disdainful  actions." 


268  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  poet  grasped  the  table  and  staggered  as  if 
struck  by  some  mighty  blow.  Then,  as  the  revul 
sion  of  his  feelings  surged  upon  him,  he  stretched 
forth  his  arms  with  a  glad  cry : 

"Now,  may  I  die  happy!"  he  exclaimed.  "The  one 
great  boon  for  which  my  very  soul  has  pined  is 
granted  me.  Or  do  my  ears  deceive  me,  and  is  this 
but  some  vision  of  a  troubled  dream  come  to  mock 
me  ere  my  dissolution?" 

He  dropped  his  arm  and  pressed  his  hands  to  his 
throbbing  temples. 

The  girl  hesitated,  then  ran  quickly  to  him,  and 
placing  her  arms  upon  his  shoulders  she  pressed  her 
soft  lips  against  his  doubting  ones  and  whispered : 

"Nay,  'tis  a  reality,  Will,  though  I  little  thought 
you  cared  for  me." 

As  the  realization  of  her  love  swept  on  him,  he 
seized  her  in  his  glad  embrace  and  strained  her  to  his 
breast  as  he  wildly  cried : 

"You  never  thought  I  loved  you,  Anne  ?  Why,  you 
have  been  the  one  impulse  of  my  worried  brain  since 
first  I  beheld  your  lovely  form.  You  have  been  the 
inspiration  of  my  plays,  and  whatever  of  success  I 
may  have  attained  is  due  to  the  influence  of  your 
spirit  which  has  ever  attended  my  labours.  You  have 
been  my  Queen.  I  have  never  realized  that  there  is 
another  in  England,  and  I  would  not  exchange  this 
eve  of  happiness  before  my  execution  for  the  assur 
ance  of  a  life  full  of  years  without  your  love." 

He  dropped  his  arms  and  leaned  against  the  table. 

"And  did  you  believe  that  I  was  enamoured  of 
Juliet  Florio?"  he  asked,  laughing  lightly. 


In  the  Tower  269 

"Aye.  I  came  upon  you  on  the  terrace  and  heard 
your  protestation  of  love,  which  I  can  now  under 
stand  referred  to  another ;  and  when  I  saw  you  leave 
the  court  together  I  thought  you  sought  the  city  and 
carried  on  your  guilty  amours  in  some  secluded  re 
treat." 

"Thank  God  that  you  have  learned  the  truth !'  he 
exclaimed.  "But  you  risk  your  life  here,  my  darl 
ing.  If  you  are  discovered,  it  will  go  hard  with  both 
yourself  and  my  gaoler.  You  had  best  bid  me  good- 
by  forever  and  seek  the  Queen,  ere  my  loving  em 
braces  bring  disaster  upon  your  beautiful  head." 

She  looked  at  him  passionately.  Then  taking  him 
by  the  arm  she  led  him  to  the  chair  and  gently  pressed 
him  down  until  he  sat  before  her,  then  she  drew 
her  skirts  about  her  and  took  her  seat  upon  his  knee, 
laying  her  head  upon  his  shoulder  with  a  happy 
sigh. 

"You  may  take  me  in  your  arms,"  she  murmured, 
"and  hold  me  there  until  night  falls.  You  may  do 
with  me  as  you  will,  for  you  are  my  lord  and  mas 
ter;  and  when  the  Queen's  minions  find  me  with  you 
in  the  morning,  I  will  demand  to  be  taken  before 
Her  Majesty,  and  will  plead  most  strongly  for  your 
life.  She  has  ever  held  me  in  great  favour  and  I 
believe  that  I  can  move  her  obstinate  heart." 

"Anne,  I  love  you  too  well,"  said  he,  "to  let  you 
encompass  your  own  ruin.  Ere  I  would  allow  the 
breath  of  suspicion  to  taint  your  fair  name  with  its 
scandalous  vapours  I  would  plunge  this  dagger 
which  they  have  carelessly  left  in  my  possession  into 


270  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

my  protesting  heart,  and  with  my  last  gasp  would 
call  upon  you,  as  you  loved  me,  to  return  at  once  to 
the  palace!" 

The  girl  burst  into  a  fit  of  passionate  sobbing, 
and  Will  pressed  her  close  to  his  breast,  kissing  her 
soft  hair,  her  lovely  face,  and  luscious  lips,  and  beg 
ging  her  to  restrain  her  tears  and  bow  her  head 
in  humble  resignation  to  his  fate. 

As  the  evening  shadows  plunged  the  room  in 
deeper  gloom,  a  muffled  tapping  fell  upon  the  heavy 
door  and  the  faint  accents  of  Sir  Amias  Paulet  were 
heard  in  protest  at  the  maiden's  delay. 

"My  Lady,"  he  said,  "if  I  remain  much  longer 
in  the  corridor,  the  gaolers'  suspicions  will  be 
aroused  and  they  will  institute  a  search." 

She  arose  and  stepped  to  the  door,  which  he 
opened  slightly  in  response  to  her  summons.  She 
put  her  lips  to  the  crack  and  whispered  softly : 

"Surely  a  wife  may  spend  a  few  hours  with  her 
husband."  And  as  the  noble  started  violently,  she 
continued :  "I  ask  but  five  minutes  more,  Sir  Amias, 
and  then  I  will  attend  you.  I  have  but  one  fare 
well  message  to  deliver."  The  gaoler  said  nothing, 
but  quickly  bolted  the  door,  and  she  returned  to  her 
lover. 

"Will,"  she  said,  as  she  dropped  on  her  knees 
before  him,  "you  showed  me  a  third  token  of  a 
clenched  hand.  What  is  its  significance?" 

"I  am  sworn  to  secrecy  until  death,  my  darling, 
and  may  not  reveal,  even  to  you,  the  mysteries  of 
its  association." 


In  the  Tower  271 

"Nay,  but  you  spoke  of  its  influence  with  a  lofty 
noble.  Will  you  not  entrust  me  with  your  treasure 
and  let  me  bear  its  message  to  his  ear?  Perhaps  it 
may  stay  the  penalty." 

Shakespeare  started  violently  and  then  arose  and 
lifted  the  jewel  in  his  palm. 

"By  my  faith,  Anne,"  he  cried,  "there  may  be 
one  last  desperate  chance!  'Twas  given  me  by 
Robert  Dudley,  the  Queen's  favourite,  and  at  its 
presentation  he  entreated  me  to  call  upon  him  in 
the  hour  of  my  need.  That  hour  has  come  on  swift 
wings,  my  darling,  though  I  fear  that  even  his  influ 
ence  will  avail  me  naught." 

"He  has  great  power,  Will.  He  must  have  cast 
a  spell  upon  Her  Majesty,  for,  as  you  surely  wit 
nessed,  he  was  seated  to-day  at  her  right  hand  in 
the  throne-room." 

"In  sooth  he  was,  and  'twas  the  cause  of  all  my 
trouble,"  answered  the  poet;  "for  the  courtiers  so 
plainly  evidenced  their  dissatisfaction  that  she  was 
wrought  up  into  a  terrible  state  of  temper  before 
the  curtain  rose  upon  the  play." 

"The  time  is  flying,  Will.  Let  me  take  the  token 
and  hasten  to  the  Earl,  with  a  prayer  for  his  inter 
vention." 

The  poet  drew  her  closely  to  him  and  pinned  the 
jewel  upon  her  bodice  directly  over  her  heart,  as  he 
said: 

"Go  to  Dudley,  my  darling,  and  tell  him  that  the 
youth  who  saved  his  life  upon  the  highway  full 
many  seasons  past  does  now  demand  his  own  life 
in  return.  That,  for  himself,  he  would  not  move 


272  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

a  finger  to  extend  his  worthless  existence,  but  that 
he  has  suddenly  discovered  his  image  mirrored  in 
the  heart  upon  which  he  has  set  this  seal  of  their 
association;  and  that  he  now,  by  virtue  of  their 
brotherhood  and  common  cause,  does  loudly  cry  for 
freedom,  that  that  same  heart  may  not  break  in 
anguish  at  his  death." 

They  were  again  interrupted  by  the  gaoler's  ham 
mering  upon  the  door  and  his  impatient  tones 
calling : 

"The  time  is  up,  my  Lady." 

Anne  answered  loudly : 

"I  am  coming,  Sir  Amias" ;  then,  embracing  her 
lover,  she  gave  him  a  farewell  caress  and  sped 
quickly  to  the  door.  As  she  reached  the  threshold 
she  turned,  and  raising  her  right  hand  on  high,  said 
solemnly :  "Dear  husband  of  my  soul,  I  bear  your 
message  to  the  Earl;  but  if  he  fails  me,  I  swear 
before  the  God  of  all  that  I  will  save  your  life,  even 
though  I  have  to  forge  Elizabeth's  signature  to 
your  release  and  murder  the  Queen  to-night  in  the 
royal  bed-chamber. 

She  tapped  on  the  door,  which  opened  swiftly, 
and  wafting  him  a  kiss  from  her  dainty  finger-tips, 
she  darted  into  the  corridor. 


CHAPTER  XXI 
HER  MAJESTY'S  SUMMONS 

Anne  Hathaway  and  the  gaoler  passed  down  the 
deserted  stairway,  and  were  fortunately  spared  a 
meeting  with  any  of  the  prison  attendants.  When 
they  reached  Sir  Amias's  lodgings  she  thanked  him 
fervently  for  his  kindness  and  quickly  left  the  Tower, 
speeding  across  the  dark  court-yard  toward  the 
Queen's  garden. 

As  she  turned  an  angle  of  the  guards'  barracks 
she  ran  blindly  against  the  cloaked  figure  of  a  man 
who  was  hurrying  in  the  opposite  direction.  The 
force  of  their  sudden  contact  was  so  great  that  her 
light  form  was  thrown  heavily  to  the  stone  flags  of 
the  court,  and  the  man  staggered  and  uttered  an  im 
precation  under  his  breath.  As  a  low  feminine  cry 
informed  him  that  the  prostrate  form  was  a  woman, 
he  hastened  to  her  side  and  gently  raised  her  to  her 
feet,  inquiring  if  she  had  been  injured.  She  mur 
mured  a  weak  denial,  and  as  the  familiar  tones  of 
her  voice  smote  upon  his  ear  he  started  and  peered 
searchingly  beneath  her  hood. 

"As  I  live,  'tis  the  Queen's  hand-maiden,"  he  said. 
"What  brings  you  in  the  court-yard  at  this  late  hour, 
and  unattended?  Surely  Her  Majesty  is  in  ignor 
ance  of  your  absence  from  the  palace." 


274  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  girl  gave  a  cry  of  joy  as  she  recognized  the 
very  man  on  whose  influence  hung  her  lover's  life. 

"Oh,  my  Lord/'  she  said,  "I  have  just  left  the 
Tower  and  was  on  my  way  to  seek  you  in  your 
apartment.  This  meeting  is  fortunate  indeed,  for 
I  much  feared  to  find  you  gone." 

"Do  you  bear  a  message  from  Elizabeth  ?" 

"Nay.  I  come  from  the  prison  cell  of  a  noble  gen 
tleman,  and  I  pray  that  you  will  use  your  favour  with 
Her  Majesty  to  save  Will  Shakespeare's  life." 

"Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  have  inter 
viewed  the  poet  without  the  Queen's  permission? 
Why,  'tis  death  for  all  concerned  if  this  violation  of 
her  order  is  discovered." 

"But  you  will  not  betray  me,  my  Lord.  I  have 
kept  your  secret  these  many  months." 

"True,  true,"  he  muttered. 

"And  will  you  not  help  me?" 

"  'Tis  impossible,  girl.  If  I  but  mentioned  his 
name,  she  would  fly  into  a  towering  rage;  and  so 
well  do  I  know  the  influence  of  Her  Majesty's  in 
flammable  temper  upon  her  entire  being  that  it 
might  be  as  much  as  my  own  life  is  worth  to  broach 
the  subject." 

"But  she  holds  you  in  great  esteem,  my  Lord. 
'Tis  well  known  that  you  can  move  her  when  the 
combined  efforts  of  the  highest  nobles  of  the  court 
have  failed.  I  earnestly  entreat  you  to  take  some 
slight  risk  in  view  of  the  services  I  have  rendered 
at  your  meetings  in  the  tomb-house,  and  make  one 
last  attempt  to  stay  the  executioner's  hand." 


Her  Majesty's  Summons  275 

"Why  do  you  plead  so  earnestly  for  this  man's 
life?" 

"Because  I  love  him  and  would  be  his  wife." 

The  Earl  gave  a  great  start  of  surprise. 

"Surely  this  cannot  be  the  truth,"  he  said.  "Why, 
'tis  notorious  in  the  court  that  you,  of  all  the  Queen's 
suite,  most  openly  insulted  him  and  treated  him 
with  scorn,  though  even  Her  Majesty  bowed  her 
head  in  acknowledgment  of  his  superior  intellect ;  and 
there  is  not  another  lady  of  her  train  but  would  have 
deemed  it  a  high  honour  to  have  held  a  moment's 
conversation  with  this  shy  and  gentle  author.  You 
are  indeed  a  perverse  maiden,  and  I  am  constrained 
to  believe  that  you  act  upon  another's  request,  or  else 
do  most  shrewdly  contrive  this  prayer  as  an  excuse 
and  to-  avoid  the  consequences  of  my  discovery  of  the 
Queen's  lady  in  this  dark  court-yard.  Never  fear, 
my  proud  beauty,  I'll  keep  the  secret  of  your  amour, 
for  he  is  a  fortunate  man  indeed  who  may  sip  the 
honey  of  your  luscious  lips."  He  suddenly  seized  the 
girl  in  his  arms,  and  forgetting  his  Queen  and  his 
conscience  in  his  passion,  attempted  to  press  a  kiss 
upon  her  lovely  mouth. 

With  a  strength  born  of  her  indignation,  she 
wrenched  herself  free  from  his  clasp,  and  stood  be 
fore  him  in  as  fine  a  fit  of  fury  as  ever  seized  her 
royal  mistress. 

"Thank  God,"  she  said  fiercely,  "that  I  am  more 
faithful  in  my  love  than  the  Queen's  favourite. 
Shame  on  you,  Lord  Dudley!  I  never  counted 
you  so  base.  Will  Shakespeare  is  worth  a  dozen 
Earls.  What  would  Her  Majesty  say  if  this  tale 


276  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

was  carried  to  her  ears?  How  long  would  the 
mighty  Leicester  sways  the  destinies  of  England, 
if  she  but  dreamed  his  infidelity?  Why,  you  would 
meet  a  speedier  fate  than  my  poor  lover,  and  your 
proud  head  would  roll  in  the  dust,  much  to  the  joy 
of  many  jealous  courtiers  who  have  long  and  secretly 
cursed  the  day  that  Robert  Dudley  left  Kenilworth 
for  Windsor  Castle." 

The  noble  recoiled  and  stood  abashed  before  the 
angry  maiden. 

"I  pray  your  forgiveness,  my  Lady,"  he  murmured 
humbly.  "I  have  underrated  your  character  and 
insulted  your  pride.  It  seems  beyond  belief  that 
Will  Shakespeare  can  have  captured  your  heart ;  but 
if  he  might  be  saved  from  his  certain  fate  he  would 
live  happy  in  the  possession  of  the  love  of  that  rarest 
of  all  creatures  at  a  royal  court,  a  virtuous  woman. 
My  feelings  made  a  villain  of  me,  Mistress  Hatha 
way,  and  if  I  can  do  aught  to  atone,  I  pray  that  you 
will  command  me." 

"Then  go  at  once  to  the  Queen  and  demand  my 
lover's  freedom." 

"You  are  clever  indeed,  my  Lady,  and  hold  me  at 
a  disadvantage;  but  'tis  the  one  step  that  I  dare  not 
take.  I  am  sorry  indeed  for  your  lover,  for  I  have 
ever  considered  him  a  true  man  amongst  many  shal 
low  and  fickle  courtiers.  Ask  any  other  favour  and 
it  will  be  granted  quickly." 

"I  desire  naught  but  his  freedom,"  sobbed  the  dis 
tracted  girl. 

"Then,  as  I  am  powerless  to  serve  you,  I  will  take 
my  leave,"  said  Dudley.  "I  hope  that  you  will  bear 


Her  Majesty's  Summons  277 

your  loss  bravely,  for  grief,  mercifully,  does  not 
endure,  and  you  may  find  solace  in  the  love  of  some 
more  fortunate  noble."  He  lifted  his  broad  hat, 
bowed  low,  and  turned  upon  his  heel. 

Ere  he  had  stepped  three  paces  the  maiden  darted 
to  his  side  and  fiercely  clutched  his  arm. 

"If  you  will  not  listen  to  a  woman's  prayer,"  she 
hissed  in  his  ear,  "perhaps  you  will  pay  some  heed  to 
the  claim  of  Will  Shakespeare's  mute  messenger 
upon  your  memory." 

As  he  looked  at  her  wonderingly,  she  drew  his 
half- resisting  form  along  the  barracks  wall  to  where 
a  dingy  lantern  shed  its  fitful  gleam  upon  the  deser 
ted  embrasure.  She  stopped  beneath  its  ray,  and 
casting  her  cloak  from  her  shoulders,  said,  as  it  fell 
softly  on  the  flags  : 

"Fix  your  eyes,  my  Lord,  on  the  token  that  I  wear 
upon  my  heart.  Does  it  not  cry  to  you  from  the  dim 
recesses  of  the  past  and  waken  a  thrill  of  gratitude 
in  your  noble  breast?" 

The  Earl  stooped  quickly  and  scrutinized  the 
jewel. 

"Why,  'tis  the  badge  I  gave  Will  Shakespeare 
nigh  four  years  agone,"  he  muttered. 

"Aye.  He  saved  your  life  then,  Lord  Dudley. 
Will  you  not  at  least  return  the  favour  ?  Though  even 
in  his  dire  extremity  he  would  never  have  appealed 
to  you  had  I  not  forced  him  through  my  love." 

Leicester  pressed  his  hand  to  his  throbbing 
temples,  and  stood  uncertain  and  bewildered  beneath 
the  lantern. 


278  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"If  it  had  not  been  for  his  brave  action  and  his 
ready  aim,  my  bones  might  lie  unburied  and  un 
known  these  many  years  in  some  deserted  waste.  He 
foiled  my  enemies,  and  I  owe  him  much.  I  must,  I 
will  use  some  endeavour  to  move  Elizabeth  to  pity; 
but  I  am  all  at  sea  to  give  a  sufficient  reason  for  my 
interference." 

"What  if  I  could  prove  to  you  that  the  Queen 
owes  much — aye,  the  safety  of  her  throne  and  even 
her  life  to  his  zeal  and  faithful  service?" 

The  Earl  eagerly  clutched  her  arm. 

"If  such  a  thing  were  possible  we  might  even  yet 
win  the  day,  my  girl,"  he  answered. 

"What  would  you  say  if  I  told  you  that  Will 
Shakespeare  discovered  a  plot  for  the  flight  of  Mary 
Stuart  with  the  Spanish  King,  and  being  too  modest 
to  claim  the  credit,  he  chose  me  as  his  messenger  to 
Her  Majesty,  despite  his  harsh  treatment  at  my 
hands,  and  the  Scottish  Queen  was  intercepted  at  the 
very  threshold  of  her  prison  through  his  timely 
warning;  though  I  did  not  see  fit  to  disturb  the 
Queen  with  a  rumour  of  the  intended  escape." 

"My  God!"  gasped  Leicester,  "can  this  be  true?" 

"I  have  never  violated  my  honor  by  a  lie,  Lord 
Dudley." 

"Then  we  will  save  your  lover,  my  girl,  even 
though  we  have  to  use  force  in  compelling  Her  Ma 
jesty's  attention  to  our  tale." 

"The  execution  is  set  for  sunrise  to-morrow, 
therefore  your  action  must  be  taken  at  once  or  it 
will  be  too  late,  and  it  is  impossible  to  gain  admis 
sion  to  Her  Majesty  without  the  knowledge  of  her 
attendants." 


Her  Majesty's  Summons  279 

"True,  true,  my  Lady,"  said  the  Earl ;  "and  if  they 
but  announce  my  wishes  'tis  certain  that  she  will 
deny  the  interview.  'Twill  please  her  much,  in  this 
abominable  temper,  to  slight  Robert  Dudley." 

"Oh!  What  are  we  to  do,  my  Lord?"  asked  the 
distracted  girl.  "May  I  not  conduct  you  to  her 
presence?  The  other  maidens  recognize  that  I  am 
privileged,  and  would  not  dare  gainsay  me  if  I  told 
them  'twas  Her  Majesty's  wish." 

"Nay.  Their  babbling  tongues  would  soon  raise 
sad  havoc  with  Elizabeth's  honour  if  we  thus  entered 
her  apartment."  He  frowned  and  stood  in  silence 
for  a  moment,  then  sharply  struck  his  hand  upon  his 
thigh,  saying:  "By  God's  wounds,  I'll  do  it!  Do 
you  seek  your  room  and  remain  there  quietly  until 
the  Tower  clock  strikes  ten,  then  venture  out  into 
the  dark  again  and  meet  me  on  the  step  of  Wolsey's 
tomb-house.  We'll  find  a  way  to  the  royal  presence 
through  the  secret  passage." 

The  maiden  sadly  shook  her  head. 
'  'Twill  not  avail,  my  Lord,  the  door  is  locked," 
she  said. 

"The  Queen  has  at  last  yielded  to  my  importuni 
ties  and  but  yesterday  entrusted  me  with  the  key," 
he  answered  shortly,  as  he  picked  up  her  cloak  and 
placed  it  around  her  drooping  shoulders. 

The  girl's  eyes  lit  up  with  a  wondrous  expression 
of  hope  as  she  turned  them  upon  the  Earl. 

"I  freely  forgive  you,  my  Lord,"  she  murmured, 
"for  your  attempt  upon  my  chastity;  and  if  you 
wish,  you  may  in  honour  take  a  kiss  of  friendship 
and  of  gratitude  from  my  willing  lips." 


280  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

"Nay,  I  would  not  poach  upon  the  preserves  of 
my  good  friend  the  poet/'  he  said.  "Let  us  hope 
that  he  may  be  spared  to  take  full  measure  of  your 
caresses  ere  to-morrow's  sun  has  waned." 

Shortly  after  the  stroke  of  ten,  Queen  Elizabeth 
was  awakened  from  a  light  sleep  by  a  muffled  tap 
ping  upon  the  wall  of  her  chamber,  and  as  she  sat 
up  in  her  bed  with  a  startled  cry,  she  was  astounded 
to  see  by  the  dim  light  of  her  single  taper  the  panel  of 
the  secret  corridor  fly  open  and  the  Earl  of  Leices 
ter  step  quickly  into  the  room.  Her  fear  gave  way  to 
a  violent  outburst  of  rage,  and  she  hurled  furious 
anathemas  at  the  intruder's  head. 

"How  dare  you  violate  the  sanctity  of  my  bed 
chamber  at  this  hour  of  the  night,  Robert  Dudley? 
I  trusted  you  when  I  delivered  you  the  key,  thinking 
that  I  might  occasionally  have  your  companionship, 
undisturbed  by  the  curious  eyes  and  ears  of  my  at 
tendants;  but  I  find  that  you  are  but  a  creature  of 
your  vile  passions  and  I  despise  you  for  it.  Leave 
my  presence  at  once,  and  return  the  key  to  me  in 
stantly!" 

The  Earl  opened  his  lips  in  protest,  but  she  would 
have  none  of  it. 

"Out  of  my  sight,"  she  commanded,  "or  I  will 
arouse  my  attendants  and  have  you  committed  to  the 
Tower!"" 

As  she  stormed,  Anne,  who  had  been  standing  in 
the  passage  and  had  heard  the  angry  words,  think 
ing  that  her  presence  would  have  a  reassuring  effect 


Her  Majesty's  Summons  281 

upon  her  mistress,  stepped  into  the  chamber  and 
stood  quietly  at  Leicester's  side. 

This  last  arrival  was  too  much  for  the  Queen,  and 
flinging  aside  all  semblance  of  modesty  along  with 
the  royal  bed-clothing,  she  leapt  upon  the  floor  and 
strode  across  the  room,  her  silken  night-robe  flying 
wildly  about  her  bare  feet.  Arriving  in  front  of 
Anne,  she  struck  her  viciously  upon  the  cheek  with 
the  flat  of  her  hand. 

"You  infamous  wench !"  she  said,  as  the  girl  sank 
sobbing  at  her  feet,  "you,  too,  are  in  his  confidence. 
No  doubt  he  has  half  the  ladies  of  my  court  as  his 
mistresses,  though  he  thinks  to  deceive  me  with  his 
lying  tongue." 

A  dark  flush  mounted  Dudley's  brow,  and  he 
seized  the  Queen's  wrist  in  his  iron  grasp  and  looked 
into  her  face  with  such  a  world  of  anger  in  his 
glance  that  even  this  fearless  woman  quailed  before 
him. 

"For  shame,  Elizabeth,  to  cast  slander  on  this  pure 
maiden's  name!"  he  said  hoarsely.  "I'll  overlook 
the  foul  accusation  you  hurled  at  my  innocent  head 
and  treat  it  with  the  scorn  that  it  deserves,  but  this 
poor  girl's  cup  of  sorrow  is  filled  to  overflowing  by 
the  peril  of  the  man  she  loves,  and  we  come  to  you  on 
an  errand  of  life  and  death  that  could  not  be  com 
passed  by  any  other  means." 

"Well,  what  is  it  brings  you  here?"  asked  the 
Queen  in  a  milder  tone. 

"If  you  will  garb  yourself  more  fitly  for  an  audi 
ence,  I  will  be  pleased  to  enlighten  your  Majesty," 
he  answered,  with  a  stiff  bow. 


282  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Elizabeth  quickly  turned  her  back  upon  him,  and 
the  forgiving  hand-maiden  ran  to  her  wardrobe,  and 
taking  a  long  cloak  of  sable  and  ermine,  she  wrapped 
it,  'round  her  mistress's  scantily  clad  form,  and 
placed  a  pair  of  dainty  slippers  upon  her  naked  feet. 
Then,  as  the  monarch  seated  herself  in  a  chair  by 
the  bed,  looking  indeed  most  regal  in  her 'rich  furs, 
the  girl  dropped  meekly  on  her  knees  at  her  side, 
though  her  cheek  tingled  smartly  from  the  blow. 

Leicester  turned  and  closed  the  panel,  then  step 
ped  swiftly  before  the  Queen.  He  placed  his  finger 
lightly  upon  Anne  Hathaway's  bosom.  "Do  you 
recognize  that  token,  your  Majesty?"  he  asked 
sternly. 

"Why,  'tis  the  badge  of  our  great  organization," 
she  answered,  in  surprise.  "But  how  comes  it  that 
this  girl  wears  the  jewel?  Our  members  are  all 
men,  save  myself  alone,  and  you  have  violated  your 
oath  if  you  have  entrusted  her  with  the  secrets  of  the 
order."" 

"It  has  no  significance  in  her  eyes,  save  that  it 
holds  forth  a  promise  for  her  lover's  life." 

"I  tell  you  that  the  wayward  chit  has  no  lover, 
Robert.  You  talk  in  riddles." 

"And  I  assure  you  that  she  has,  Elizabeth,  and 
that  she  and  her  sweetheart  have  both  served  you 
faithfully  and  well,  and  have  contrived  much  for  the 
furtherance  of  'The  Queen's  Life.' ' 

"Then,  in  God's  name,  who  is  the  man,  my  Lord  ?" 
she  asked  impatiently. 

"The  poet,  William  Shakespeare,  whom  you  so 
unjustly  condemned  to  death  this  afternoon  in  a  fit 


Her  Majesty's  Summons  283 

of  temper,  and  who,  as  you  should  know,  though  I 
presume  you  have  forgotten,  wore  the  jewel  upon 
his  sleeve  the  day  he  first  appeared  at  court." 

The  Queen  arose  and  answered  him  coldly : 

"This  is  utter  nonsense,  Dudley.  The  girl  de 
spises  him.  Why,  she  told  me  with  her  own  lips 
that  he  was  not  a  man  of  honour  and  intrigued  much 
with  a  certain  woman.  Nay.  The  royal  word  is 
given.  He  dies  to-morrow." 

Anne  clasped  her  mistress's  knees. 

"I  was  much  mistaken,"  she  sobbed,  "he  did  but 
guard  the  wife  of  his  friend  from  Slander's  tongue, 
though  I  knew  it  not  at  the  time.  And  I  love  him 
with  all  my  heart,  as  he  loves  me.  Oh!  my  dear 
Lady,  you  granted  me  his  life  the  day  he  killed  your 
deer  in  Fulbroke  Forest — let  your  heart  incline  to 
pity,  and  spare  him  once  again." 

He  has  insulted  me  most  grossly !"  angrily  replied 
the  Queen,  "and  you  waste  breath,  for  I  am  deter 
mined  that  he  will  never  have  another  chance  to  lash 
me  with  his  venomous  pen." 

"And,  as  Mary  Stuart  is  dead,  you  need  him  no 
longer  to  protect  you  from  her  plots  with  Philip, 
and  to  place  a  stumbling-block  in  the  pathway  of  her 
escape  to  the  King's  good  ship." 

Elizabeth  looked  at  the  Earl  with  a  puzzled  ex 
pression. 

"What  the  Devil  do  you  mean,  Robert?"  she 
queried. 

"That  if  he  had  not  warned  Anne  Hathaway  of 
a  conspiracy  that  took  place  in  your  laundry,  Mary, 
Queen  of  Scots,  would  now  be  named  Mary,  Queen 


284  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

of  Spain,  and  your  ministers  would  be  working  like 
bees  to  outfit  an  army  for  the  protection  of  England 
against  their  invasion,  while  Sir  Francis  Drake's 
ships  would  speed  across  the  mighty  Main  to  engage 
in  deadly  conflict  with  their  formidable  fleet." 

The  Queen's  eyes  opened  wide. 

"What  fairy  tale  is  this?  Do  not  think  to  gull 
me  so  easily.  The  poet  has  ever  been  too  deeply  im 
mersed  in  his  books  to  spy  out  plots  within  my  court, 
and  Mary  was  so  closely  guarded  that  any  thought 
of  her  escape  could  never  have  been  entertained." 

She  turned  to  Anne. 

"Did  you  tell  Leicester  this  lie,  in  the  hope  of  sav 
ing  the  fellow's  life?"  she  asked. 

The  girl  rose  proudly  to  her  feet. 

"You  know  that  I  have  never  uttered  a  falsehood 
in  all  my  life,  and  you  have  often  told  me  that  you 
trusted  me  alone  of  all  your  maids.  Natheless,  if 
you  will  summon  Sir  Amias  Paulet,  the  Keeper  of 
the  Tower,  whose  honour  no  man  can  deny,  he  will 
inform  you  that  in  consequence  of  my  warning  he 
stopped  a  laundress  at  the  prison  gate  and  found  the 
face  of  Mary  Stuart  'neath  her  shawl." 

The  Queen  gasped  and  looked  blankly,  first  at  the 
man  and  then  at  the  maid,  as  the  conviction  of  be 
lief  settled  upon  her. 

"What  shall  I  do,  Robert?"  she  asked  faintly. 

"If  all  other  prayers  fail  to  move  your  Majesty, 
still  you  are  bound  by  the  oath  of  our  common 
cause  to  heed  this  token  of  the  gauntlet  and  to 
answer  the  cry  of  a  comrade  for  relief." 


Her  Majesty's  Summons  285 

"True,  true,  Dudley,"  she  said.  "The  poet's  life 
is  saved.  There,  there,  Anne !"  she  protested,  as  the 
girl  gave  a  cry  of  joy  and  fervently  kissed  her  hand, 
"my  fingers  may  be  put  to  better  use.  Fetch  me 
parchment,  ink,  and  pen,  and  I  will  write  a  summons 
to  the  gaoler." 

The  happy  girl  brought  the  desired  articles,  and 
the  Queen  wrote  as  follows : 

"Sir  Amias  Paulet : 

"The  execution  is  deferred.  Send  me  the  person 
of  William  Shakespeare  to  the  throne-room  at  eight 
o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  and  see  that  he  is 
strongly  guarded.  Tell  him  nothing  of  my  change 
of  plan. 

"(Signed.)  ELIZABETH." 

"Anne,  my  dear,"  she  said,  "you  will  sleep  with 
me  in  my  own  bed  to-night  and  see  that  I  awaken 
early.  Robert,  bear  my  message  at  once  to  the 
Tower,  and  rouse  Sir  Amias  from  his  slumbers. 
Attend  me  in  the  morning." 

"What  of  the  key  to  the  secret  passage,  your 
Majesty?"  he  asked,  as  his  eyes  twinkled. 

"Do  not  lose  it,  Dudley,"  answered  the  Queen. 


CHAPTER  XXII 
THE  POET'S  PRIZE 

As  the  gray  dawn  filtered  through  the  bars  of 
Shakespeare's  prison  cell  it  found  the  poet  fully 
dressed  and  awaiting  the  summons  of  the  execu 
tioner. 

A  silken  packet  lay  upon  the  table  beside  three 
folded  missives  addressed  respectively  to  Mistress 
Anne  Hathaway,  Robert  Devereux,  and  Henry 
Wriothesley.  The  prisoner  had  availed  himself  of 
his  gaoler's  offer  of  parchment  and  a  taper,  and  had 
remained  at  the  stand  late  into  the  night  writing  his 
tender  farewells  and  last  messages  to  the  sweetheart 
and  dear  friends  he  loved  so  well.  After  he  had 
completed  his  letters  he  sat  buried  in  sad  thoughts 
until  the  candle  fluttered  and  went  out,  plunging  the 
room  in  total  darkness.  He  laid  his  weary  head 
upon  the  table,  and  fitful  snatches  of  sleep  came  to 
soothe  his  spirit,  until  the  chill  of  the  morning  pene 
trated  his  frame  and  he  arose  and  paced  restlessly 
up  and  down  the  floor,  praying  eagerly  for  the 
speedy  arrival  of  the  gaolers  and  the  release  of  his 
harassed  spirit.  But  as  the  minutes  dragged 
slowly  on  and  the  hour  set  for  his  death  passed  with 
out  the  sound  of  their  approaching  footsteps,  he  be 
came  almost  frantic  at  the  delay,  and  drawing  him- 


The  Poet's  Prize  287 

self  up  to  the  iron-barred  window  ledge,  closely 
scanned  the  deserted  court-yard,  but  there  was  never 
a  sign  of  life  to  greet  his  despairing  vision.  He 
threw  himself  upon  the  floor  in  his  distraction  and 
lay  in  a  state  of  semi-stupor  until  the  Tower  clock 
had  struck  the  second  hour  since  dawn.  As  the  last 
stroke  of  eight  was  ringing  in  his  ears,  he  heard  the 
sound  of  clanking  steps  upon  the  stairs.  He  jumped 
to  his  feet  quickly,  and  with  clenched  hands  and 
shortened  breath  awaited  the  servitors  of  the  heads 
man. 

The  key  turned  in  the  lock,  the  door  flew  open, 
and  Sir  Amias  Paulet  entered,  attended  by  two 
armoured  soldiers  of  Her  Majesty's  guard. 

"You  have  come  at  last,  Sir  Amias,"  said  Shakes 
peare.  "  'Twas  unlike  your  tender  nature  to  keep 
me  in  this  cruel  suspense.  I  have  lived  ages  since 
the  dawn,  and  pray  you  speed  me  quickly  to  the 
fatal  block.  I  crave  your  assistance  in  the  delivery 
of  these  last  messages  to  my  friends — letters  each 
for  a  loving  maiden  and  two  noble  Earls,  and  a  purse 
for  a  faithful  guardsman  as  a  wedding-gift  from  his 
master." 

"Put  your  messages  in  your  bosom,"  gruffly 
answered  the  gaoler;  "the  time  is  not  yet  ripe  for 
their  reception." 

The  poet  looked  wonderingly  at  Sir  Amias;  but 
thinking  that  he  did  not  wish  to  receive  the  letters 
ere  the  headsman's  block  was  reached,  he  thrust 
them  beneath  his  jerkin  and  answered  nothing. 

With  a  guardsman  on  either  side  and  Sir  Amias 
Paulet  leading  the  way  he  traversed  the  court-yard 


288  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

and  entered  the  main  corridor  of  the  royal  castle, 
passing  up  the  stairs  and  halting  before  the  door  of 
Her  Majesty's  throne-room. 

"Surely  they  would  not  be  so  cruel  as  to  despatch 
me  here  and  make  my  death  the  sport  of  royalty,  Sir 
Amias,"  he  said,  completely  bewildered  by  the  turn 
affairs  were  taking. 

"Keep  silent,  and  follow  my  directions,"  ordered 
the  noble,  as  he  pushed  open  the  door  and  strode  into 
the  great  hall.  As  they  walked  across  the  floor, 
Shakespeare  beheld  the  Queen,  seated  on  her  throne 
and  clad  in  her  most  regal  gown,  with  crown  upon 
her  head  and  an  ominous  scowl  mantling  her  brow. 
Save  for  Her  Majesty's  presence  the  great  room  was 
entirely  deserted,  with  never  a  sign  of  scaffold,  of 
headsman,  or  of  block.  Paulet  and  the  guardsmen 
escorted  their  prisoner  to  the  dais  and  the  gaoler 
dropped  upon  his  knee  before  the  Queen.  She  sur 
veyed  the  poet  critically  for  a  moment,  but  he  looked 
back  into  her  beady  eyes  with  never  a  waver  of  fear 
in  his  steadfast  gaze. 

"Sir  Amias,"  said  Elizabeth,  "you  may  take  your 
guardsmen  and  withdraw  to  the  Tower.  I  will  go 
security  for  this  man,  and  will  summon  you  when  I 
am  ready  for  his  execution." 

His  escort  left  the  room,  and  the  Queen  frowned 
anew  as  she  addressed  the  playwright. 

"Did  you  think  to  ridicule  Elizabeth  and  live, 
Master  Shakespeare  ?"  she  asked.  "Why,  even  Pul- 
sifer  Kyd,  the  fool,  knows  better  than  to  risk  his  life 
in  jests  at  my  expense." 


The  Poet's  Prize  289 

"And  thereby  does  mirror  the  image  of  your  many 
courtiers,  who,  less  honest  than  myself,  do  train  their 
tongues  to  words  of  flattery  and  praise;  sweet  music 
to'your  ears  no  doubt,  for  'tis  evident  that  they  ad 
vance  much  in  your  favour  through  this  policy," 
quickly  retorted  the  doomed  author. 

The  Queen's  eyes  flashed. 

"By  the  Gods !"  she  said,  "you  do  command  still 
further  token  of  my  displeasure.  But  though  you 
bear  a  rash  tongue,  'tis  indeed  a  brave  one  to  court 
death  so  openly." 

"Life  has  ceased  to  interest  me,  your  Majesty.  By 
your  divine  command  'twas  forfeit  two  hours  agone, 
and  I  held  your  noble  spirit  in  higher  esteem  than 
to  believe  that  you  would  countenance  the  plaguing 
of  a  dying  man.  I  appeal  to  you  most  humbly  to 
make  an  end  of  it  all  by  summoning  my  executioner." 

"And  would  you  have  me  stain  the  polished  floor 
of  this  noble  hall  with  your  life-blood?  Nay,  nay, 
there  is  a  more  fitting  place  for  chopping  heads ;  and 
though  I  insist  upon  your  doom,  I  do  not  care  to  wit 
ness  your  death." 

"Then  why  am  I  brought  before  your  Majesty?" 

"Because  I  wish  to  hear  the  truth  from  your  own 
lips,  and  not  through  the  medium  of  your  plays.  Do 
you,  in  sooth,  believe  that  I  will  die?" 

"Your  Majesty  is  one  of  God's  creatures,  even  as 
the  humblest  menial  in  your  castle  walls ;  and  as 
surely  as  you  are  born  in  His  image,  so  surely  will 
your  body  wither  and  answer  nature's  final  call 
when  your  life's  allotted  span  has  run  its  course. 


290  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Immortality  is  found  in  the  Temple  of  Fame  and  the 
Halls  of  Love  and  Memory;  never  in  the  earthly 
shell,  most  noble  Queen." 

The  monarch  sat  back  in  her  throne,  abashed  by 
his  reproving  answer. 

"And  think  you  not  that  I  am  beautiful,  most 
learned  sage?"  she  asked  presently. 

"Yes,  but  beauty  will  fade,  and  'twill  meet  a 
quicker  death  than  that  of  mortal  flesh,"  he  said. 

"You  are  the  only  man  in  all  my  court  who  has 
ever  dared  to  speak  the  truth,"  she  answered 
sharply.  "Even  those  in  whom  I  have  unbounded 
faith  do  falsify  when  my  person  is  discussed,  and  I, 
alas,  give  heed  to  them  and  befool  myself  by  think 
ing  that  I  alone  am  favoured  and  imperishable.  I 
know  not  whether  you  do  me  a  kindness  or  an 
injury  by  destroying  my  faith;  and  though  the 
thought  of  death  plays  havoc  in  my  breast,  the  wan 
ing  of  my  beauty  does  indeed  give  me  much  more 
concern." 

'  'Twill  endure  many  years,  your  Majesty,  and 
may  you  be  preserved  to  a  long  life  of  happiness  and 
love." 

"You  speak  me  fair,  Master  Shakespeare.  Is  not 
your  heart  filled  with  bitterness  for  my  treatment  of 
you  ?  Have  you  not  one  last  request  to  make  ere  I 
send  you  to  the  scaffold  ?" 

Shakespeare  bowed  his  head  suddenly  and  dropped 
upon  his  knee  before  the  Queen. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "there  is  a  maiden  in 
your  train  whose  beauty  is  the  wonder  of  the  court. 
She  has  ever  served  you  faithfully,  aye,  better  than 


The  Poet's  Prize  291 

you  know,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  will  be  affec 
ted  by  my  death.  I  crave  that  you  will  bear  with  her 
patiently,  and  that  when  her  grief  has  passed  you 
will  seek  some  fitting  mate  to  keep  her  company  on 
Life's  troubled  voyage.  Counsel  her  to  wed',  I  pray 
you,  for  'twould  be  a  sin  to  waste  her  youth  and 
beauty  in  the  single  state. 

"If  you  will  but  comply  with  my  last  wish  you 
may  in  some  measure  repay  her  for  her  love  and 
watchful  care.  If  she  had  been  less  zealous  in  her 
service,  your  Majesty's  fair  neck  might  have  suffered 
the  executioner's  stroke  long  ere  the  presentation 
of  my  play,  and  I  might  even  now  be  free  to  wed  the 
maid,  though  I  would  not  have  it  so,  for  England 
would  have  suffered  much  with  Mary  Stuart 
Queen." 

"You  are  indeed  a  modest  man,  Master  Shakes 
peare,  to  plead  another's  cause,  when  'twas  through 
your  agency  that  the  plot  was  foiled." 

The  poet  arose  amazedly  to  his  feet. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  gasped,  "I  thought  you  were 
in  ignorance  of  the  conspiracy !" 

"Ah,  my  friend,  the  Queen  knows  all,"  she  an 
swered,  nodding  mysteriously.  "All  about  the 
guardsman  and  the  laundress,  the  jester  and  Sir 
Thomas  Hatton,  the  fish  and  the  assassin,  the  poet, 
and —  Shall  I  go  any  farther  ?"  she  queried. 

"You  are  the  very  Devil  himself,"  muttered 
Shakespeare.  "How  learned  you  these  many 
secrets  ?" 

"Through  the  lips  of  that  world-old  tale-bearer, 
a  woman.  My  favourite  hand-maiden  slept  last 
night  with  me  in  the  royal  bed-chamber." 


292  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

Will  answered  not,  but  dropped  his  head  upon  his 
breast  and  stood  humbly  awaiting  his  consignment 
to  the  executioner,  for  he  felt  that  the  monarch  was 
but  playing  with  him  to  make  her  revenge  more 
sweet  and  sure. 

Elizabeth  continued : 

"Will  Shakespeare,  you  display  a  courtly  grace, 
a  noble  figure,  and  a  handsome  face,  and  even  the 
Queen  of  England  is  not  proof  against  the  charms 
of  manly  beauty."  She  looked  nervously  around  the 
room  as  though  in  fear  of  an  eavesdropper,  then 
arose  and  walked  rapidly  down  the  dais  and  stopped 
in  front  of  the  poet,  while  a  rosy  blush  suffused  her 
cheek. 

"Your  life  may  be  spared  on  one  condition,"  she 
said.  "Can  you  not  guess  my  secret  ?  Think  you  I 
would  have  been  so  angered  were  I  not  in  love  ?  I 
am  but  a  tender  woman  at  heart,  and  since  your 
brilliant  intellect  first  stirred  my  breast  in  admira 
tion,  which  later  turned  to  passion,  I  have  longed  for 
your  companionship.  What  say  you  if  we  cast  pro 
priety  to  the  winds,  and  with  you  as  ruler  of  my 
heart  and  throne  let  the  destiny  of  our  country  tend 
which  way  it  will  ?" 

"What  of  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  your  Majesty?" 
questioned  the  astounded  playwright?" 

"He  irks  me  much,  dear  Will,  and  can  easily  be 
disposed  of,  for  I  am  all-powerful.  With  your  brain 
and  my  favour  we  may  make  this  the  most  intellec 
tual  realm  in  the  whole  world.  Come,  my  gentle 
youth,  and  choose  quickly.  On  the  one  hand  life  and 
love  and  a  Queen,  on  the  other  a  flashing  blade  and 
instant  death.  Do  you  hesitate?" 


The  Poet's  Prize  293 

"Nay!  Not  for  a  moment,  your  Majesty!  Send 
me  to  the  executioner,  for  life  would  be  a  dreary 
waste  without  my  sweet  Anne's  love.  Shame  on  you 
for  a  fickle  wanton!  I  would  that  Robert  Dudley 
could  hear  your  words,  for  he  is  an  honest  gentle 
man  and  my  good  friend/' 

"He  needs  no  champion !"  thundered  a  deep  voice 
behind  the  throne,  and  through  the  folds  of  the 
heavy  arras  stepped  Leicester  himself,  and  strode 
straight  to  the  poet,  holding  out  his  hand  as  he  said : 

"Nobly  spoken,  young  master.  Would  all  lovers 
were  as  true  and  friends  as  staunch  as  William 
Shakespeare." 

The  Queen  laughed  merrily  and  shook  her  finger 
at  the  Earl. 

"Now,  what  do  you  think  of  my  trick?  By  my 
faith,  it  was  a  crucial  test,  though  you  hated  much 
to  have  me  risk  it.  Did  you  fear  to  lose  me, 
Robert?" 

"Nonsense!"  muttered  the  Earl,  as  his  face  red 
dened,  while  Shakespeare  looked  in  dismay,  first  at 
the  Queen  and  then  at  the  Lord. 

"Well,  well,"  said  Elizabeth,  "I  hardly  know  what 
to  do  with  this  troublesome  fellow.  I'd  best  banish 
him  to  some  desert  island  where  he  may  sing  his 
poems  to  the  sea ;  and  though  'twill  rage  and  roar  as 
I  have,  it  needs  must  lap  his  feet  at  last  and  fall 
away  weakly  to  its  coral  bed.  If  I  keep  him  here  at 
court  I  dare  not  prophesy  to  what  great  lengths  his 
audacity  may  carry  him.  He  angered  me  so  yester 
day  that  I  would  have  his  life,  though  to-morrow  he 
may  strike  a  balance  and  with  some  new  antic  of  his 


294  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

fat  fool,  Falstaff,  bring  tears  of  merry  laughter  to 
my  eyes  and  crack  my  shaking  sides  with  glee." 

She  beckoned  to  Leicester,  who  stepped  to  her 
side,  inclining  his  head  as  she  whispered  in  his  ear. 
When  she  had  finished  he  smiled  and  nodded,  and 
ascending  the  dais  disappeared  behind  the  arras. 

The  Queen  mounted  the  steps  to  her  throne,  and 
seating  herself  therein,  leaned  back  with  folded  arms 
and  looked  quizzically  at  the  sadly  troubled  man. 

"What  do  you  think  of  my  little  comedy,  my 
friend  ?"  she  asked. 

"Is  it  not  to  have  a  tragical  ending,  your  Ma 
jesty?"  he  replied,  as  the  light  of  awakened  hope 
gleamed  in  his  eyes. 

"Nay,  'twould  be  a  sin  to  put  to  death  the  man 
who  scorns  a  Queen's  love.  I  have  a  better  fate  in 
store  for  you." 

He  stepped  to  the  throne,  and  dropping  humbly  to 
his  knee  bent  to  kiss  the  hem  of  Elizabeth's  robe,  but 
she  pulled  it  aside  quickly. 

"I  am  not  worthy  of  such  homage,  my  dear  friend. 
Reserve  your  kisses  for  your  lady-love,  for  she  is  a 
better  woman  than  I,  in  that  she  brought  me  to  my 
senses  and  prevented  me  from  doing  a  cruel  and  un- 
queenly  act." 

As  she  raised  him  to  his  feet  the  arras  was  pushed 
aside  and  Leicester  again  stepped  forth,  holding  by 
the  hand  the  poet's  sweetheart,  Anne  Hathaway, 
who  was  clad  in  a  simple  robe  of  white  and  was 
closely  followed  by  the  Queen's  sleek  minister,  My 
Lord  Bishop  Kitchen  of  Llandaff.  They  had  scarce 
descended  the  steps  ere  Pulsifer  Kyd,  the  fool, 
pranced  gayly  from  behind  the  tapestry  and  dropped 


The  Poet's  Prize  295 

at  the  feet  of  the  Queen,  winking  grotesquely  and 
wiggling  his  ears  at  the  fat  churchman. 

"I  have  a  mind  to  name  your  wedding  morn, 
friend  Shakespeare,"  said  the  Queen.  "Is  it  not  a  fit 
ending  to  your  pilgrimage  from  the  Tower?" 

"But,  your  Majesty,"  he  protested,  "I  am  not  fitly 
clothed,  and  Anne  will  surely  want  some  time  for 
preparation." 

Didst  ever  hear  the  like  of  that,  Kitchen  ?  And  you 
are  always  dinning  marriage  in  my  ears.  Does  it  ap 
pear  to  you  that  your  sweetheart  is  not  prepared 
when  she  is  summoned  by  a  private  stairway  from 
my  apartment,  where  she  has  been  waiting  for  an 
hour  with  this  minister  ready  at  hand?  And  as  for 
your  apparel — you  wear  the  rich  mantle  of  love  in 
every  lineament  of  your  fair  face  and  figure.  What 
finer  garb  could  any  maiden  crave  ?" 

Shakespeare  turned  to  his  sweetheart. 

"Do  you  wish  to  wed  me  now,  my  darling?"  he 
asked,  as  she  turned  her  luminous  eyes  in  love  upon 
him. 

"Yes,  Will,"  she  said.  "I  have  lost  many  precious 
hours  through  my  perverseness  and  my  heart  hung 
ers  for  your  company." 

"So  be  it,  then,"  he  said.  "Your  Majesty,  I  hum 
bly  thank  you  for  this  noble  favour  and  your  forbear 
ance.  Let  the  churchman  quickly  marry  us  and  I 
swear  that  I  will  offend  you  no  more,  but  will  ever 
offer  you  my  humble  service." 

The  Queen  chuckled  heartily  and  turned  to  Dud 
ley. 

"Do  I  pay  my  debts,  Robert?"  she  asked.  "Or 
is  there  still  a  balance  in  the  poet's  favour?" 


296  The  Romance  of  Gentle  Will 

The  Earl  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  smiled, 
while  she  continued : 

"And  now,  as  I  am  still  a  virgin  and  eligible  to  the 
office,  I  have  a  mind  to  act  as  bridesmaid  to  my  lady. 
And,  Leicester,  you  may  attend  your  friend,  the 
groom.  Here,  Master  Shakespeare,"  she  said,  as  she 
drew  a  jeweled  ring  from  her  finger,  "is  a  circlet  that 
will  serve  to  join  you  twain  and  the  display  of  which 
will  instantly  command  my  service  if  ever  'tis  re 
quired. 

"Were  ever  man  and  wife  made  one  attended  by 
more  royalty?"  She  looked  wistfully  at  Leices 
ter.  "Pray  God  that  Kitchen  may  do  the  same  for  us 
ere  long,"  she  murmured,  and  the  Earl  muttered  a 
fervent  "Amen."  Then  with  a  return  of  her  buoy 
ant  spirits  she  said  merrily:  "And  now  I  have  a 
mind  to  complete  the  pageant.  Kyd,  you  may  sum 
mon  the  court." 

Anne  stepped  quickly  to  her  lover's  side  and 
tightly  grasped  his  hand,  as  the  jester  ran  to  the  en 
trance  of  the  throne-room  and  opened  wide  the  doors. 

The  Queen's  entire  suite,  clad  in  rich  array, 
marched  into  the  great  hall  under  the  leadership  of 
the  somewhat  disgruntled  Lord  Chancellor,  and  took 
their  places,  ranging  themselves  in  long  lines  on 
either  side  of  the  abashed  lovers. 

Robert  Devereux,  with  Wriothesley  and  his  beau 
tiful  bride,  pressed  close  to  their  friend's  right  hand, 
and  though  they  spoke  no  word  their  joy  was  plainly 
written  on  their  beaming  faces. 

Dudley's  messengers  had  done  their  work  well, 
for  though  many  of  the  courtiers  had  yawned  sleep 
ily  and  had  protested  mightily  at  being  routed  so 


The  Poet's  Prize  297 

early  from  their  downy  beds,  none  dared  violate  the 
royal  command,  and  their  drowsiness  quickly  left 
them  when  they  realized  the  occasion  of  their  sum 
mons. 

The  Queen  and  Leicester  took  their  stations  as 
bridesmaid  and  groomsman,  and  the  Bishop  in  his 
churchly  regalia  read  the  marriage  service  that 
joined  the  loving  hearts  of  the  poet  and  the  maid 
until  death's  parting. 

As  they  knelt  to  receive  his  benediction,  Elizabeth 
whispered  briefly  to  the  Earl,  and  when  the  closing- 
words  fell  from  the  minister's  lips  Dudley  drew  his 
sword  and  presented  it  to  the  Queen,  who  stepped 
in  front  of  Shakespeare  and  tapped  him  sharply  with 
the  blade,  saying  loudly : 

"Arise,  Sir  William,  and  salute  your  bride. 

"The  poet  Spenser  needs  must  wait  a  space, 
Ere  we  our  knighted  poet  will  displace." 

As  the  courtiers  and  ladies  of  the  Queen's  suite 
flocked  eagerly  around  the  fortunate  pair,  the  jester 
laughed  shrilly  and  caroled  in  a  cracked  voice : 

"The  lovers  are  wedded, 

The  romance  is  past, 
We  cry,  as  the  curtain  falls, 
For  a  kiss  ever  ready, 

A  love  that  will  last 
Till  the  voice  of  Eternity  calls. 

For  an  arm  to  protect 

And  a  sweet  voice  to  pray, 
Close  bond  between  husband  and  wife. 
For  children  to  bless  them 

And  smooth  the  rough  way 
To  the  end  of  their  journey  of  life." 


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